How to Turn Off Water Mains in an Apartment

If you live in a unit or townhouse, the water mains to isolate the water to your unit may not be at the front of the property.

How do I turn off water mains in an apartment?

There will be an isolation tap somewhere else that will shut off the water just to your unit, leaving the other units or townhouses with water.

You will need to shut down the water to your unit if you have an emergency water leak, a burst pipe , leaking tap or need to do some maintenance to your taps & toilets.

If you have a leak on your hot water system, you can isolate the hot water at your hot water heater & do not need to shut down all the water to your unit. To learn how, check out our ‘how to shut off hot water tank’ blog.

How do I isolate the water to just my unit or apartment?

Isolating the water to just your unit is very easy to do.
You just need to know where your isolation valve or tap is located. It may be just outside the door or even in your laundry.

If you do not know where to find your isolation tap, we recommend you contact your complex manager as it is important that you know this information in case of an emergency.

This video shows you how easy it is to shut down the water to your unit.

Once you have located the isolation valve/tap. If it is in the ground, it may have a cap over the top. (see pic

Remove the cap to expose the tap or valve.

If the tap or valve is not readily visible, you may have to clean around & remove all the leaves & dirt from the area to expose the tap.

If the isolation is a valve, then the OFF position is when the tap handle is NOT in line with the pipe.

Depending on how it was installed, it is most likely but not always, that you will turn the tap right to turn it OFF. (See pics)

Once you have turned the tap off, then go inside to check that the water is turned off.

If the tap was not able to be turned, it may be seized & you will need to contact your local plumber to repair this isolation tap to your apartment or townhouse.

Moyle Plumbing & Gasfitting has a same-day emergency service if needed 0447 671 095.

We have been offering Emergency Plumbing from Brisbane to the Gold Coast, including Logan City since 1983.

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