How to Locate and Operate Your Main Water Shut-Off in Pflugerville

When a pipe ruptures, you have minutes to stop the flooding. The time to search for your water valve is today, not at 2:00 AM while water is pouring through your ceiling.

A single ruptured 1/2-inch copper or PEX supply line can unleash 10 to 15 gallons of pressurized water per minute into your home. In just ten minutes, 150 gallons of water will saturate sheetrock, subflooring, and crawlspaces, easily causing over $10,000 in structural damage.

In many Pflugerville homes built after 1995, look inside the garage near the water heater or in an adjacent utility closet. You will see a brass ball valve with a blue or red handle. Turning the lever 90 degrees clockwise (perpendicular to the pipe) completely isolates the house.

Older homes may feature a round gate valve wheel. Gate valves require several clockwise turns to close completely; however, older gate valves frequently seize or snap if forced. If your home has a gate valve, consider having it upgraded to a quarter-turn ball valve.

In some Central Texas subdivisions, the main shut-off is located on an exterior wall near the front garden hose bib. Look for a vertical copper or PEX pipe emerging from the ground with a shut-off lever.

Because this valve is exposed to winter elements, it must always be insulated before freezing temperatures arrive. If it freezes, you will be unable to operate the valve during an emergency freeze burst.

Every municipal water customer has a meter box located near the street curb or sidewalk. Remove the cast iron lid. The brass valve on the street side of the meter requires a meter key or wrench to turn 90 degrees until the lock eyes line up.

Be careful when removing the lid: Central Texas meter boxes are damp, dark environments frequently inhabited by black widow spiders, scorpions, and fire ants. Always wear heavy leather work gloves and use a screwdriver to pry open the lid.

1. Locate your meter box or interior ball valve immediately.

2. Insert your 5-foot water meter curb key onto the brass valve tongue.

3. Rotate 90 degrees clockwise until the holes on the valve flange align.

4. Immediately relieve indoor pressure by opening the lowest exterior garden hose spigot and an indoor faucet to drain remaining water out of the lines.