Burst Pipe Repair
Shut off the flood, then replace the split or cracked section of pipe.
Homeowner guide
Finding and Closing the Main Water Valve in Commerce City, CO
Every home has a main shutoff valve, and many owners have never touched it. Find it today, test it and tag it, because in a burst pipe the first minute matters most.
By the Mile High Express Plumbing team · published
Typical places to find the main valve
In most Front Range houses the main sits where the water line enters the building. With a basement, check the street-facing wall, often by the water heater or in a utility room. In a slab house, try the garage, a utility closet or an outdoor box.
There may also be a valve at the meter outside. That one is often for the utility's use, so check with your water provider before turning it. Your indoor valve is the one you should use.
Ball valves and gate valves
A ball valve has a lever handle. Turning it a quarter turn so the handle sits across the pipe closes it. A gate valve has a round wheel handle that needs several turns clockwise to close.
Gate valves are the older style and often stick or seep at the stem. Do not force a stiff one, since the stem can snap. A plumber can swap an old gate valve for a ball valve quickly.
Ball valve versus gate valve
Learn which one you own before an emergency.
| Valve | Handle | How to close it | Trouble spot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ball valve | Lever | Quarter turn, lever across the pipe | Seldom sticks |
| Gate valve | Round wheel | Several clockwise turns | Stem may leak or seize if forced |
| Meter valve | Belongs to the utility | Ask your provider first | Not for routine use |
How to shut it off in an emergency
Close the valve all the way. Next, open a tap at the lowest level, like a basement sink or outdoor spigot, to drain what is left in the pipes, and open one upstairs so air can get in.
If water has reached the panel or outlets, do not touch them with wet hands. Throw the breaker only from a dry position, or get help.
Exercise the valve ahead of an emergency
Each year, close the valve and open it again. If it turns smoothly and the water stops, it is working. If it is stuck, leaks at the stem or does not fully stop the flow, replace it.
Hang a tag on it that says MAIN WATER. Show everyone in the house where it is. A valve that no one can find does not help in an emergency.
Fixture shutoffs
Individual fixtures should have their own stop valves: toilets, sinks and the water heater. These let you stop a local leak without cutting water to the whole house. Replace a valve that has not turned in years before it fails.
If a supply line is leaking and the fixture valve will not close, shut the main. A faucet and sink repair visit can replace stuck stops at the same time as the repair.
Winter and travel
Before leaving for a long winter trip, close the main and drain the lines. That limits the damage if a pipe fails while you are away. If a pipe has frozen or split, close the main first and then call.
Shutting off the main also turns off the supply to the water heater, so switch the heater to vacation mode or off first on a long absence.
Label the shutoffs
Walk the house with a roll of tape and a marker. Label the main, the water heater supply, each toilet stop, the outdoor tap shutoff and the irrigation feed. Take a photo of the layout and keep it on your phone.
Show every adult in the household. A teenager home alone or a guest watching the house is more likely to stop a flood if the valve is labeled and easy to reach. Review the labels each autumn, when you are already thinking about hoses and heating, and add anything new, such as a filter bypass or a softener shutoff, so the layout on your phone stays current.
What to do after you shut it off
Once the water is off, open a lower faucet to drain the pipes and stop leaks that feed from standing water. Move valuables from the wet area and put out towels. Turn off the water heater if the tank is draining, so the elements or burner do not run empty.
Photograph the damage before you clean up. Then call a plumber. If the water is dirty or came from a sewer line, keep people out of the area and call for emergency help.
Replacing an old main valve
A main valve that is more than a few decades old is likely a gate valve. Replace it with a full-port ball valve while the water is shut off at the street or meter, or with a plumber's help if the shutoff at the meter is not yours to use.
A new valve makes every future repair easier, because the plumber can isolate the house quickly. It is a modest cost for a valve you may need in an emergency.
Rental and shared buildings
In an apartment or a condo, the main for your unit may sit in a closet, under a sink or in a utility chase. Ask your landlord or association where it is before you need it. A building main is usually off limits to tenants.
If a pipe bursts and you cannot find the unit shutoff, call the property manager or the building emergency line at once, then call a plumber.
Common questions
Main water valve questions
Start near the point where the water line comes in, commonly the front wall, beside the water heater or in a utility room.
Do not force it. Call a plumber to replace it. If water is flooding in, call the utility's emergency line.
Many people do for long trips. It limits damage if a pipe fails while you are away.
That valve is typically the utility's. Use the indoor shutoff and ask your provider about the meter valve.
Services that help
Leak Detection
Pinpoint a hidden leak using acoustic listening, thermal imaging and pressure tests.
Water Line Repair & Replacement
Fix or replace the buried supply pipe running from the meter to your home.
Keep reading
Frozen pipes: thaw and prevent
A frozen pipe can split without warning. Here is how to thaw one safely and keep the next cold snap from catching you.
How to find a water leak
A meter, a few paper towels and a systematic walk-through can find most leaks before they cause damage.
Water heater leaking from the bottom
Water at the base of the tank may be a fitting or a failed tank. Here is how to tell the difference and what to do first.
Main valve stuck or leaking?
Phone in and tell us what you found. A local contractor will be arranged.