What to do if…
your main water shutoff valve is stuck and you cannot turn it

What to do now

1. Make the area safer first.
   Keep people, pets, and yourself away from spreading water, wet electrical items, and the water path. If there is sparking, fire, a shock risk, or water reaching an electrical panel and people may be at risk, call 911.

2. Only shut off electricity if you can reach the breaker safely.
   If the breaker panel is dry and you can reach it without stepping in water, shut off power to the affected area or the main. If you would have to stand in water or touch wet electrical equipment, do not try.

3. Contain and redirect the leak.
   Use towels, buckets, pans, plastic sheeting, or a trash can to catch or redirect water. Move phones, laptops, documents, rugs, and other valuables out of the water path.

4. Try the stuck main valve gently, once.
   Use a dry cloth for grip and turn slowly in the usual shutoff direction. If it does not move, try a small gentle back-and-forth. If it still will not move, stop so you do not break the valve or pipe.

5. Close the nearest fixture shutoff if the leak is from one item.
   For a toilet, sink, washing machine, dishwasher, refrigerator line, or water heater supply line, close the small shutoff valve on that item’s supply line. This may stop or greatly reduce the leak even if the main valve is stuck.

6. Use a customer-accessible meter shutoff only if you can clearly identify it and your utility permits customer use.
   Some meters have a customer shutoff valve in or near the meter box. If you are sure which valve it is, access is safe, and it is meant for customer use, turn it slowly to the off position. If it is in the street, in traffic, under deep water, unclear, locked, or hard to move, stop.

7. Call the water utility if the flow is not controlled quickly.
   Say: “Active leak, main shutoff valve stuck, need water shut off at the meter or curb.” Ask whether there is a customer-operable meter valve and whether they can talk you through it or send a crew.

8. If you rent, contact the landlord, property manager, or emergency maintenance line.
   Do this after starting the water shutoff steps, or ask someone else to call while you contain the leak. Tell them the main water shutoff is stuck and water is still flowing.

9. If the home is on a private well, shut off the well pump if you can do it safely.
   Use the clearly labelled pump switch or breaker, often marked “well” or “pump.” Water may still drain from the pressure tank and pipes for a while.

10. Turn off the water heater only if it is safe and obvious how to do so.
    If the home’s water supply is off or very low, and the area around the heater is dry, use the normal control or breaker to turn the water heater off. Do not relight gas, remove covers, or adjust unfamiliar controls.

11. Check whether the water has stopped or slowed.
    Open a cold faucet briefly to confirm the water is off or clearly reduced, then close it again. If water is still flowing strongly, stay focused on containment and utility or plumber help.