Where to look in a Brampton house
- Go to the basement and find where the water pipe comes through the front wall or floor, usually near the water meter.
- Look for a valve just before or after the meter. It may be a lever or a round wheel.
- In finished basements, check behind an access panel, inside a utility room or under the stairs.
- In townhouses and condos, it may be in a mechanical closet or under the kitchen sink.
How to close it
Lever handles need only a quarter turn; closed means the lever crosses the pipe. A wheel valve turns clockwise, often many turns. If it is stiff, do not force it with a wrench; a broken valve makes things worse.
Test it twice a year
Shut it, confirm an upstairs tap runs dry, and reopen it fully. If it does not stop the water, or leaks when you turn it, plan to replace it.
Label it
Hang a bright tag on it and walk the whole household down to see it. A babysitter or a tenant should know where it is too.
- Keep the area clear of boxes
- Keep a flashlight nearby
- Note the curb stop location on your property for emergencies
If your inside valve fails, the Region of Peel can close the curb stop at the property line.
Rather hand it over? Our plumbers handle bathroom plumbing and gas line installation along with everything else on our residential plumbing list.