Where the valve usually is
San Antonio houses normally give you two places to stop the water.
- House shut-off: where the main line enters the house — often near the front hose bib, in the garage, or in a utility closet. This is the one to use first.
- Meter box at the street: a rectangular lid in the ground near the curb. Inside, next to the meter, is the customer valve.
How to turn it off
- Turn clockwise
Round handle valves turn clockwise until they stop. A lever-style ball valve turns a quarter turn so the handle sits across the pipe.
- Open a low tap
Open a downstairs or outside tap to drain the pressure left in the pipes. The flow should slow to nothing.
- Check the leak stopped
If water keeps running hard after a few minutes, you closed the wrong valve — or the leak is on the street side of the meter, which is SAWS territory.
If the valve is stuck or broken
Old gate valves seize up, and forcing one can snap the stem and leave you with a bigger leak. If it will not move by hand, do not lever it with a pipe. Use the meter box valve instead, and have the house valve replaced afterwards — it is a small job on a normal day and a disaster in an emergency.
Do this before you need it
- Find both valves this week and make sure they actually turn.
- Keep a meter key (or a long flathead) near the front door.
- Show everyone in the house where the valve is.
- Tag it with a label so nobody hunts for it at 2am.
Questions people ask
What if water is coming from the ceiling?
Shut off the main valve first, then switch off the electricity to that area at the breaker if the ceiling is wet near lights or fittings. Do not stand under a bulging ceiling.
Should I also turn off the water heater?
Yes if the leak is at or near the tank, or if the house water is off for a while. Set a gas heater to "pilot" or switch off the breaker for an electric one, so it does not heat an empty tank.
Who fixes a leak before the meter?
The line on the street side of the meter belongs to San Antonio Water System. Call SAWS for that. Everything from the meter to your house is yours, and that is what we repair.