The main water valve is usually in the basement, on the pipe where the water line comes through the front foundation wall, right next to the water meter. Turn a round handle clockwise until it stops, or turn a lever handle a quarter turn so it sits across the pipe. If water is running and you cannot find it, call (413) 603-1274.
Where to look in a Chicopee home
- Basement front wall: the most common spot. Follow the pipe from the meter back to where it enters the wall.
- Shared basement: in two- and three-deckers, the building main is often in the common basement, with separate valves for each unit.
- Near the water heater: not the main, but the cold-water valve feeding the heater.
- Utility closet: in homes without a basement, often near the water heater or the kitchen.
- Manufactured homes: often near the water heater closet or under the home where the line comes up.
Two kinds of valves
- Gate valve (round wheel handle): turn clockwise several full turns until it stops. These are common in older Chicopee homes and often stick or do not seal fully.
- Ball valve (lever handle): a quarter turn. Lever in line with the pipe is open. Lever across the pipe is closed.
After you close it
- Open a faucet on the lowest floor to drain the lines.
- Check that water stopped at the leak.
- Turn off the water heater if the water will be off for a while.
- Call for the repair: (413) 603-1274.
If it will not turn or will not stop the water
Do not force it with a long wrench. Old valve stems snap, and then the valve cannot be closed at all. See main water valve won't shut off. If water is pouring, the Chicopee Water Department can shut it at the street. See who shuts off the water at the street.
Do this before you need it
Find your main valve today, make sure it turns, and show everyone in the house where it is. Tie a tag on it. In rentals, landlords should show every tenant where the main is.
In multi-family houses
In a Chicopee two- or three-decker there may be one main valve in the shared basement for the whole building, or a main plus separate valves for each apartment. Tenants often cannot get into the basement, so landlords should make sure at least one person in the building knows where the main is and has access. If there are unit valves, label each one with the apartment it serves. Closing the main stops water to everyone, so after closing it, tell the other tenants why the water is off and when it should be back.
Condos and newer homes
In condos, the shut-off for your unit is often in a utility closet, under the kitchen sink, near the water heater, or behind an access panel. In newer homes with PEX plumbing, the main may be in a mechanical room next to the water heater, sometimes with a manifold where each fixture line has its own small valve.
Shut-off valve questions
Which way do I turn the water valve off?
Clockwise for a round handle. For a lever, turn it so it crosses the pipe.
Should I shut the water off before a winter trip?
Yes. Shut the main and open faucets to drain the lines. Leave the heat on. See house temperature when away.
Can you replace an old main valve?
Yes. See main water shut-off valve replacement.
Water running and valve stuck? Call now
Call (413) 603-1274 now. Locally owned in Chicopee.