Can anyone provide guidance on how to find the water shut off for a hall bath demolition as YouTube has been unhelpful for this rookie DIYer?
Asked by April Castillo 
5 months ago
Last Updated: June 22, 2024
Hey there! Newbie DIY’er in the house. Trying to demo my hall bath but I’m struggling to locate the water shut off valve. YouTube wasn’t much help this time. Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated!
The basement is where you can find the main water valve.
Doesn’t have a basement?
Did check the attic?
‘t forget to check inside the closets
Make sure to look under the kitchen sink or in the vanity as well
It really depends on the region you’re in. It could be under the kitchen sink or in the water heater closet, or even outside the house leading directly into the wall.
Makes a good point that basements are not common in many homes. If a homeowner can’t locate the main shut off valve, it might be best to call a professional.
The water valve is located where the water enters the house. Sometimes there is a panel on the wall behind the shower, but typically it’s not easily reachable. Remember to shut off water to the entire house, not just the shower.
Follow the markings to the hot water tank and also to the primary supply. You might need to turn it off at the main. If that’s the case, be sure to add cutoffs as you work.
Just trace along the pipes on the left and right side. Hopefully, you will come across a couple of valves to turn off the water to that bathroom without affecting the entire house.
Do you see a access panel on the opposite side of the shower wall? We do have a shut off valve specifically for the shower, but it’s not easily reachable from where you’re pointing at. And regarding what was mentioned about the basement, for people like us, the main shut off for the entire house is located outside in the front yard where the water meter is.
If you happen to have a water meter, it should be located in that area
I’m not exactly sure what information you received. To shut off the water, you will likely need to locate the main line to the house, which could be at the street. Occasionally, a shut off can be found in the wall for the shower, but it’s not guaranteed. If there is one, you might find an access panel near the floor on the backside of that wall.
Head over to the meter now.
You might find it in the basement or utility room close to the hot water heater. If it was a spec home, there is typically no shut off in the wall. That kind of plumbing would have been customized.
Locate where the water line enters the house. You might need to consider hiring help if you’re having trouble with this.
Locate your meter
Our main water shut off valve is located in the front yard next to the meter. You can use a water key to turn it off, which can be purchased at Lowe’s or Home Depot for less than $20.00. It’s crucial for homeowners to be able to quickly shut off the water in case of an emergency.
Feels the same about mine.
You don’t have to turn off the water at the city shut off. In most cases, there is a shut off valve in a utility or laundry room in your home. It’s usually located between the city shut off and where your plumbing system enters your home, closer to the interior branching.
Jon, unfortunately we don’t have any other choice in our neighborhood, so we do have to turn it off at the main. However, I do agree that other areas may have different construction styles.
That would be terrible! We can’t find a city wrench at the store. It’s actually a 5 pointed socket wrench.
In many areas, it’s typical for the meter to be the only cutoff point for !!
Check the crawl space for . Also, take a look near the water heater as the valve there may control the water going to the tank. If you want to replace or relocate this valve, be prepared for a challenging task, especially if you’re new to this.
Cupcake, many homes actually do not have crawl spaces, especially if they are newer
The images you’re sharing of the valve do not show a shutoff valve. Most houses have a main shutoff near where the main water line enters. If you can’t find it, buy a meter wrench from Lowe’s and shut off your meter. 👍
If you’re looking to turn off the water supply just for this shower, there’s usually an access panel on the opposite side of the wall with two separate valves – one for hot water and one for cold water.
The water cutoff valve is actually on the supplier side of the water meter. You might be able to easily reach it and use a pair of vice grips to turn it. Usually, just a quarter turn is needed to shut it off.
So the water meter is typically located at the street or wherever your property’s water meter is.
You’ll have to shut off the main water supply since that valve doesn’t have its own shut-off.
Try to locate the shut off quickly! Check for the meter or ask the water board for help.
Aren’t there access panels on the other side of the wall? You should find the shutoff valves there.
I’m dreading the chaos that is about to unfold.
A half bath? Just a shower and no toilet? Haha, that’s different!
Is like, whaaat… haha
Wait, ‘s hall bathroom is not just a half bath?
After shutting off the water, remember to relieve the pressure in the system by opening a faucet.
If the main water line hasn’t been used or maintained in a while, please handle it with care!
Mine is located in the garage
Ours is right outside before it enters the house.
Most likely the main shut off is located by the water meter if you don’t have individual ones for each bathroom. Make sure to drain the water from the lowest faucet before starting any plumbing work
Turn off the main water valve near your meter or well tank