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Quick Answer: If you’re seeing active water damage, pooling water, or a sudden drop in pressure, shut off your main water valve immediately and call for emergency service. If your only sign is something subtler, like a rising water bill, it’s reasonable to leave water on and schedule a standard inspection.
When to Shut Off Your Water Right Away
Treat these as reasons to shut off your main valve immediately:
- Water actively pooling or visibly entering the property
- A sudden, significant drop in water pressure
- Any sign the leak is large or worsening quickly
In these situations, call (470) 454-5051 for emergency leak detection after shutting off the water — leak detection is available seven days a week, with same-day appointments. Call during our published business hours to confirm availability; phones are not answered overnight between 8:00 PM and 8:00 AM.
When It's Reasonable to Leave the Water On
If your only indication is something subtler — a slightly elevated water bill, a faint musty smell, a small damp spot that isn’t actively growing — the leak is likely small and slow-moving rather than an active emergency. In these cases, it’s generally fine to leave your water on and schedule a standard, non-emergency inspection rather than shutting off water throughout the property.
How to Find Your Main Shutoff Valve
If you don’t already know where it is, it’s worth locating it before you need it in a hurry:
- In a home, it’s commonly near where the main water line enters the building — often in a basement, crawl space, garage, or utility closet, or near the water meter outside.
- In a commercial property, the main shutoff is often near the water meter or in a dedicated mechanical room; facility staff or a property manager typically knows its location.
Test that you know how to operate it (most are a quarter-turn ball valve or a gate valve you turn multiple times) so you’re not learning during an actual emergency.
Why This Distinction Matters
Shutting off water to an entire property is disruptive — no water for anyone using the building until it’s back on. That tradeoff is clearly worth it when there’s active damage happening, but it’s not necessary for every situation where a leak is suspected. Matching your response to how serious the signs actually are avoids unnecessary disruption while still protecting the property when it counts.
Not Sure Which Situation You're In?
If you’re unsure whether what you’re seeing counts as an emergency, call (470) 454-5051 and describe it — we can help you figure out whether this is a shut-off-now situation or one that can wait for a scheduled visit.
FAQ
What counts as a reason to shut off my water immediately?
Active pooling or visible water entering the property, a sudden significant drop in water pressure, or any sign the leak is large or getting worse quickly.
Is it okay to leave my water on if I just noticed a high bill?
Generally, yes. A subtle sign like a rising bill without active water damage usually indicates a smaller, slower leak, and it’s reasonable to schedule a standard inspection rather than shut off water to the whole property.
Where is my main water shutoff valve located?
In most homes, it’s near where the main line enters the building — a basement, crawl space, garage, utility closet, or near the water meter outside. In commercial properties, it’s typically near the meter or in a mechanical room.