Emergency right now?
If water is actively flooding your home, locate your main valve and turn it off before you do anything else. Then call Topline Plumbing at (530) 704-6989 for same-day emergency response in the Redding area during business hours (Mon–Fri 8:00a–4:30p). Outside business hours, call 911 if it is a safety issue and text the same number — we will respond first thing the next business day.
Why every homeowner needs to know this
A burst pipe can release 30–50 gallons of water per minute. In 10 minutes, that's 300–500 gallons dumped into your home — enough to destroy drywall, hardwood floors, electrical, and insulation. The only thing that stops it is your main water shut-off valve.
Most Redding homeowners have no idea where their main shut-off is, whether it works, or how to operate it. When the emergency happens, they waste 5–10 precious minutes searching — and by the time they call a plumber, the damage is already done.
This guide takes 5 minutes to read and could save you thousands. Walk through it once right now, find your valve, and confirm it works. You'll never regret it.
Step 1: Locate your main shut-off valve
Your main shut-off is located where the water supply line enters your home. In the Redding area, here's where to look in order of likelihood:
- 1.The garage, on the wall nearest the street. This is the most common location in Redding homes built since 1970. Look for a copper or PEX pipe coming out of the wall with a valve on it.
- 2.Outside near a hose bib. Often on the front or side of the house. Look for a valve inside a small box or exposed along the exterior wall.
- 3.In a utility closet or near the water heater. Common in newer homes without garages.
- 4.In the crawlspace. Common in older Shasta County homes and rural Palo Cedro / Bella Vista properties. Bring a flashlight.
- 5.At the water meter on the street. If there's no valve inside the house at all, you'll need to use the meter shut-off.
Step 2: Identify the valve type
You'll have one of two types:
Ball Valve
Looks like a flat metal paddle or lever. Turns 90 degrees (one quarter turn). When the lever is parallel to the pipe, water is ON. When it's perpendicular to the pipe, water is OFF. These are more reliable and most common in homes built since 2000.
Gate Valve
Looks like a round wheel, similar to an outdoor faucet handle. Requires multiple full rotations to close. Turn clockwise to close, counter-clockwise to open. Older gate valves can seize up if never used — if yours is stuck, don't force it. Call a plumber.
Step 3: Turn the valve to OFF
Ball valve: Rotate the lever 90 degrees until it's perpendicular to the pipe. That's it — the water is off.
Gate valve: Turn the wheel clockwise. Keep turning until it stops — this may take 10–20 full rotations depending on the valve. Don't over-tighten at the end — just turn until firm resistance.
Step 4: Verify the water is off
Don't trust that the valve worked without verifying. Open any faucet inside the house. The water should slow to a trickle within 5–10 seconds, then stop completely.
If water keeps flowing, either the valve isn't fully closed (rotate further) or you turned off the wrong valve. Some homes have multiple shut-off points — one for the street-side supply and one for an irrigation line. Make sure you've closed the one feeding the house.
Backup plan: The water meter shut-off
If your main shut-off inside the house is broken, stuck, or doesn't exist, you can shut off water at the meter. In Redding, the water meter is typically in a concrete or metal box on the sidewalk or curb strip near the front of the property, marked "WATER."
Inside the box is a valve operated by a meter key (a long T-handle tool available at any hardware store) or a long adjustable wrench. The valve is typically a rectangular shape — turn it 90 degrees to shut off.
Important: If your main shut-off inside the house is broken, replace it as soon as possible. Every Redding home should have a working main shut-off inside the building, not just at the street.
Do this right now (it takes 2 minutes)
Don't wait for an emergency to find out your shut-off doesn't work. Take 2 minutes right now:
- Find your main shut-off valve.
- Turn it off and verify with a faucet.
- Turn it back on.
- Tell everyone in your household where it is and how to operate it.
If the valve is stuck, leaks when operated, or you can't find one at all, call Topline Plumbing at (530) 704-6989. Replacing a main shut-off is a simple, affordable job — and it's some of the best insurance you can buy for your home. We quote it upfront before any work begins.