Then open a faucet at the lowest point to drain the line. Do this once now, before an emergency, so you know the valve works.
Where the main shutoff usually is
The main valve sits on the pipe right after it comes through the foundation or slab. It is often near the front wall that faces the street, close to where the water meter line comes in. In many homes it sits near the water heater, in a utility room or in a basement corner.
If you cannot find it, trace the water line. Look for a pipe about the size of your thumb or larger, coming from the outside wall at floor level, with a valve on it. Check the garage, a laundry room, a closet under stairs and the crawl space access.
Two kinds of valve, two ways to turn
Know which type you have, because they behave differently.
| Valve type | What it looks like | How to close it | Common problem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ball valve | A lever handle, closed when the lever sits across the pipe | Quarter turn, usually clockwise | Rare, stiff only if neglected |
| Gate valve | A round wheel handle | Turn clockwise several rotations | Seizes or breaks after years of not being used |
| Meter-side valve | A valve on the pipe next to the water meter | Do not operate it | It belongs to the utility, so call first |
| Curb stop in the meter box | A buried valve under a lid near the street | Needs a special key | Not for homeowners |
Do not force a stuck valve
If the valve will not move, stop. A gate valve that has sat for years can snap its stem or leak at the packing when forced, and then you have a new leak and no way to stop it. Use the next valve upstream if there is one, or call Public Works. A plumber can replace a failed main valve with a ball valve that works with a quarter turn.
What to do in the first five minutes
Close the main
Turn the valve clockwise until it stops, but do not force it past that point.
Drain the line
Open a faucet at the lowest level and one upstairs to relieve pressure and empty the pipes.
Protect the heater
Turn the water heater to its off or vacation setting so it does not run dry. Electric heaters should have the breaker off.
Call for help
If the leak is behind a wall or the valve will not close, call a licensed plumber.
The meter, the curb and the city
North Salt Lake runs its own water department. The city produces about 60% of its culinary water at its own pump stations and buys about 40% from Weber Basin. A few addresses are served by the South Davis Water District instead, so confirm who bills your water before you call anyone.
The meter and the curb stop in the box near the street belong to the water system, and we found no city rule about homeowners using the meter valve. So call Public Works at 801-335-8726. Hours are Monday through Thursday, 7:00 to 5:30. After-hours water emergencies go to 801-560-3718. Do not pry open the meter box or turn the valve with a wrench.
City design criteria use a 30-inch footing frost depth and an 8 F winter design temperature. For you, that means service lines run underground at depth and your own valve inside the house is the one you should be able to reach.
Valve stuck or leaking?
Call the 24/7 line. A licensed plumber can free a seized valve or replace it so the next emergency is a quick turn.
Why your valve may be stuck: age and home type
The city’s General Plan places the first wave of homes between about 1910 and 1960, west of Orchard Drive and east of Main Street. In older homes the main valve may be a gate valve that has not moved in decades. Test it gently, and if it feels gritty or leaks around the stem, plan to replace it.
Hillside homes east of Orchard Drive date from about 1960 on, and Foxboro was built from 2000 to 2010. Newer homes more often have a ball valve, though a builder-grade valve can still fail. If you moved into a home recently, ask the seller or inspector where the main is. Homes in Woods Cross and Bountiful follow the same advice.
Test it once a year
- Locate the valve and make sure nothing blocks it, such as boxes or shelving.
- Mark it with a tag so anyone in the house can find it.
- Close it fully, then open it fully. It should move without grinding.
- Open a faucet to see that water stops while the valve is closed.
- Check for drips at the stem after reopening.
- Note where the secondary valves are, such as the one at the water heater.
- Write the Public Works numbers on the tag.
When the main will not hold or leaks
A valve that closes but does not stop the flow is worn inside. One that leaks at the stem needs its packing tightened or the valve replaced. Both are quick plumber jobs, and cheaper than the damage from a burst line. Replacing a main valve alters your piping, so Utah’s homeowner exemption does not cover it. Check with the Building Department at 10 E Center Street and hire a licensed plumber.
If a pipe has already burst, shut the main first and then read our burst pipe repair page for what to expect. If the water keeps running with every fixture closed, leak detection finds the source. Homes in West Bountiful and nearby follow the same steps.
Code notes on shutoff valves
The International Plumbing Code (IPC), which Utah adopts, requires an accessible main shutoff for a water service. If yours is stuck, buried or missing, replacing it is work for a licensed plumber and may need a permit.
Frequently asked questions
Usually where the water line enters the house, in a basement, utility room, garage or crawl space, often near the front wall. Trace the line from the water heater or meter if it is hidden.
Clockwise. A lever valve closes with a quarter turn, and a wheel valve closes after several turns.
We found no city rule on homeowners using the meter valve. Call Public Works at 801-335-8726, or 801-560-3718 after hours, before touching it.
Do not force it. Try an upstream valve, call Public Works, and have a plumber replace the valve. Forcing it can snap the stem.
Once a year. Close it and open it fully, and check for drips. A valve that moves once a year rarely seizes.
Yes, switch it to its off or vacation setting, and turn the breaker off on an electric heater. That prevents it from running dry and burning out the element.