The short answer
Your main water valve stops water to the whole house. In an emergency it is the most useful tool you have. Most homes have one near where the line enters the house, and many also have a shutoff at the meter by the street.
Find it now, label it and test it once. If a pipe bursts later, you will not waste time searching. Our burst pipe repair page covers what we do after the water is off.
Find and close it
Follow these steps in order the first time, preferably when nothing is wrong.
Look where the line enters the house
Check the garage wall, a utility closet or the exterior wall near the water heater.
Identify the valve type
A round wheel handle turns clockwise to close, a lever handle turns a quarter turn.
Close it fully
Turn until it stops, then open a faucet to confirm the water is off.
Check the meter box
A second shutoff near the street can be turned with a meter key.
Tag the valve
Put a bright tag on it so anyone in the house can find it.
Dixon meter and who to call
Source type: City of Dixon utility contacts and 2024 water quality report.The City of Dixon lists a water operations office at (707) 678-7050 and an after-hours emergency line at (707) 676-3005. The shutoff at the meter belongs to the city, so ask before you use a key on it. The valve at the house is yours.
The city's report lists pressure of 52 to 62 pounds per square inch. At that pressure, a burst line can put out a lot of water fast, so every minute helps. If the valve at the house is stuck, the meter shutoff may be your only option, and the city can help.
Problems with main valves
Old valves fail in predictable ways.
Handle will not turn
Mineral scale has locked the stem.
Valve turns but water keeps flowing
The internal washer or gate is worn.
Valve leaks at the handle
The packing nut or seal is failing.
Handle spins freely
The stem has stripped.
No valve can be found
It may be buried, behind a wall or missing.
Valve stuck or leaking?
Call the 24/7 line. A same-day appointment is offered when available.
Gate valve and ball valve
Two types are common, and they behave differently.
Gate valve (round handle)
- Turns several full rotations.
- Can seize with scale and age.
- May leak at the stem.
- Often replaced during other work.
Ball valve (lever handle)
- Closes with a quarter turn.
- Reliable and easy to test.
- Handle lines up with the pipe when open.
- Common in newer installs.
Run a quick practice drill
Pick a quiet evening and walk everyone in the house through the steps. Close the main valve, open a faucet to confirm the water is off and then open the valve again. It takes five minutes and builds confidence.
Do it slowly. Old valves can leak or seize if forced. If the handle is stiff, stop and ask a plumber to look before you need it in a real emergency.
Replacing an old main valve
A valve that has not been turned in years may be corroded inside. If yours leaks, sticks or will not close all the way, replace it. A ball valve is the usual choice, since it closes with a quarter turn.
Replacement means shutting water off at the meter or upstream, so schedule it. Our plumbing installation page covers the work, and it is a good time to add shutoffs at fixtures.
Other shutoffs worth knowing
The main valve is not the only one. Learn these too, since they can stop a smaller problem without cutting off the whole house.
- The cold water valve on top of the water heater.
- The valve behind each toilet.
- The two valves under each sink.
- The valves behind the washing machine.
- The valve on the dishwasher and ice maker lines.
What to do right after you close it
With the water off, open the faucets at the lowest and highest points to drain the lines and relieve pressure. Flush the toilets once to empty the tanks. This reduces the water still coming out of a broken pipe.
Turn off the water heater, since it can overheat without water in the lines. Mop up and move valuables away from wet areas. Then call the 24/7 line and tell the dispatcher what you did.
Do not turn the water back on until a plumber has repaired the break. The pressure will reopen the leak.
Tell everyone in the house
The best valve is useless if the only person who knows where it is, is away. Show every adult and teenager where it is and how it turns. Write the location on the refrigerator or in your phone.
If you rent, tell the landlord or property manager when you move in, and ask whether there is a second shutoff for your unit.
For emergencies you cannot control, the 24/7 line is open all day and night.
A tag with the valve location and the direction to turn it helps guests, house sitters and teenagers. Put a spare copy of the plumber's number next to it.
After the water is off
Open a faucet at the lowest point to drain the lines, and turn off the water heater to protect it. Photograph the damage for insurance, then call the plumber. If the main valve itself fails, our water line repair page and plumbing installation page cover replacement.
We serve Dixon, Vacaville and Davis. Call the 24/7 line for emergencies.
Main water valve questions
A wheel handle turns clockwise. A lever handle turns a quarter turn so it sits across the pipe.
Do not force it. Try the meter shutoff, ask the City of Dixon for help and call a plumber.
The meter belongs to the city. Call City of Dixon water operations at (707) 678-7050 before using it.
The City of Dixon lists an after-hours emergency line at (707) 676-3005.
If it is stiff, leaks or does not fully close, yes. A ball valve is easier to use.