When water is pouring out, the first minute matters more than the first plumber. Shut the house main valve and the flow stops. Everything after that, the fixture valve, the street meter, and the call, is in that order for a reason.
Shut the water off in this order
The house main stops everything, so it comes first. The other valves are backups for when the main is stuck, or when the leak is at one fixture you can reach dry.
- Find the house main shutoff where the water line enters the house, often near the front hose bib or in the garage, and turn it clockwise until it stops.
- If the house valve is stuck or broken, close the fixture shutoff at the toilet, faucet, or appliance that is leaking.
- If neither valve holds, open the meter box at the curb and turn the street valve clockwise to stop water to the whole property.
- If the leak is at the water heater, close the cold water inlet valve on top of the heater and switch the heater off.
- Call AquaTrace Leak Detection, describe what you shut off and where the water was coming from, and get connected with a company that will plan how to find the leak.
Where the house main usually is
Look where the line enters the house: near the front hose bib, on a garage wall, or in a utility area. Two kinds exist. A gate valve has a round handle and needs several turns. A ball valve has a lever and closes with a quarter turn. In 1970s Citrus Heights homes the main is often at the front hose bib or in the garage. Find yours before you need it, not during a flood.
Find your valves before an emergency
Walk the house this week and find the main, the fixture stops, and the meter box. Tag the main with a ribbon or a label. Turn each valve gently once to check it moves, and never force one that is stuck. A valve you have never touched will fight you during a flood. A valve you have found and tested will turn when it counts.
The street valve and the water district
The meter box at the curb holds the district meter and the valves around it. The valve on your side of the meter stops water to the property. Do not force the meter itself. If the street valve will not move, call the district, Citrus Heights Water District or Sacramento Suburban Water District. Your bill names yours. The district owns the meter. You own everything past it, including the line between the meter and the house.
Stay safe while you shut it off
Water and electricity do not mix. Do not touch panels or outlets with wet hands, and do not stand in water to reach a switch. For a gas water heater, turn the gas control to pilot or off if you know how. If you do not know how, leave it and call. If water is near the breaker panel, stay out of the room and call for help. No valve is worth a shock.
For heater leaks, keep clear of hot water pooling near the tank, which can scald.
After the water is off
Open a low faucet to release pressure in the lines. Take photos of the water, the source, and the damage for your records. Then call with three facts ready: what you shut off, where the water was coming from, and when it started. Documenting a claim goes faster when the photos and the timeline are already in hand.
Mop up what you can and move rugs and boxes off wet floors. Open windows if the weather allows. Drying starts now, not after the repair. Photos taken now, before anything dries or moves, are the ones the insurer wants.
Frequently asked questions
Where is my house main shutoff?
Where the line enters the house, often near the front hose bib, in the garage, or in a utility area. Look for a round gate handle or a lever ball valve.
What if the main valve is stuck?
Do not force it until it snaps. Close the fixture valve if the leak is at one fixture, or the street valve at the meter box, and let the company note the stuck valve.
Should I shut off the water heater too?
If the heater is the source, close its cold inlet and switch it off. If the leak is elsewhere, the heater can stay on. If the tank drains, switch it off so the element or burner does not run dry.
Will shutting off the water damage anything?
No. Shutting off water stops damage. Open a low faucet after shutting off to release pressure in the lines.
Who do I call after the water is off?
Call AquaTrace Leak Detection and describe what you shut off and where the water was coming from. You will be connected with a company that plans how to find the leak.
Related
- How to Check Your Water Meter for a Leak
- Water Main Leak Detection
- Water Heater Leaking
- Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Leak Detection?
- How Leak Detection Works
- Contact
Think you have a leak?
Call AquaTrace Leak Detection to describe what you are seeing in Citrus Heights and get connected with a company that will plan how to find it.
Call (877) 814-1654Last updated: October 27, 2026.