Most homes have individual shut-off valves for exterior hose bibs located inside the house, usually in the basement, crawl space, or utility area near where the water line runs to the outside faucet. Follow the pipe from the exterior faucet back through the wall to the interior and you'll typically find a small valve on that line. Turn it clockwise to shut it off.
Once you shut the valve off, go outside and open the exterior faucet to drain any remaining water from the line. This is the step people forget, and it's the one that prevents frozen pipes. If water stays trapped between the shut-off valve and the outside faucet, it can freeze and burst the pipe.
If your home doesn't have individual shut-offs for the exterior faucets, or if you have frost-free hose bibs which are self-draining, the setup is different. Frost-free models have a long stem that shuts the water off inside the wall where it's warm, so they're designed to prevent freezing without a separate shut-off. Check whether your faucets are frost-free by looking at the length of the stem when you remove the handle assembly.
If you can't find the shut-offs or aren't sure what you're looking at, a plumber can locate them and label them for you in about 15 minutes. Worth the service call to know where everything is before the first freeze.
Most homes have an exterior water shut off located near the front of the property. Look for a metal or plastic cover close to the ground, often near the foundation or where the main water line enters the home. If you cannot find it, your local water utility can show you the exact location.
This is going to vary on the home, but usually it will be located just inside the home opposite of the spigot. Sometimes there is an access panel if it is in finished space. Hope this helps!
The shut off can be in a number of places:
1-Inside the basement
Look on the wall directly behind the outdoor faucet
2-Crawl space (if you don’t have a basement)
Follow the pipe from the outdoor faucet inward
3-Utility room or mechanical area
Near the water heater, main water line, or boiler
In most homes, the shutoff for outdoor water is located inside, not outside. Common spots include the basement, crawl space, utility room, or near the water heater. Look for a valve connected to the pipe that feeds your exterior hose bibs.
In colder climates, many homes also have a separate interior shutoff specifically for outdoor lines to prevent freezing. If you can’t find it, a plumber or home inspector can usually locate it quickly.
Hello Jahon, If you look on the interior of the home where the pipe leads to the outdoor faucet you should see a valve for on/off. If it is not directly in view, follow the pipes toward the main line until valve is found.
In New Hampshire, the shut-off is located on the opposite side of the spigot location on the interior side of the home in the basement, usually where the foundation sill meets the foundation wall. Follow the pipes to the shut-off.
Typically this will be on the side of the house where you find a main pipe going into the home. You may also purchase hose bib covers that will secure around the hose bibs to insulate them and or use weather wraps to keep them insulated.
It can vary from home to home, but typically comes through an area near the front of the house. If you have a basement, check there. If you have a garage, it may be there or near your water heater.
