When you are thinking about the plumbing system in your home, it’s important to know exactly where the water shutoff valve is located. The shutoff valve is usually found right where the main supply pipe enters the house coming up through your basement floor, either next to or very close to the water meter. The main shutoff for the house will be one or two valves near the main water supply pipe that can be turned on and off by hand.
There may also be an additional shutoff outside the house, buried in a cavity that is sometimes referred to as a “buffalo box.” If you have a buffalo box, it will generally be found in the ground near the street or the edge of your property. The box will often have a round metal cover. Pry open the cover and look inside with a flashlight. There will be a valve that you can turn by hand or with a long-handled “key.”
If you will need to shut down the system often during the course of a project, find your external shutoff and use it to shut off the water. Don’t depend entirely on the inside shutoff (particularly if you have an older home) – it can break, leak, or stop shutting off.
Are you looking for someone to take care of your plumbing in Little Rock, Arkansas? Our company deals with plumbing repair, plumbing emergencies, and a wide variety of other plumbing issues. So, the next time you need any sort of repair, from water pipe repair to hot water heater replacement, give us a call and we’ll help you out.