How to use this worksheet
Walk through your home with this page and a flashlight. For each valve, write where it is in plain words someone else could follow, what kind of handle it has, and whether it actually works. Then sketch a rough floor plan and mark each valve with a number from the table. Tape a copy near the main shutoff and keep a photo of it on your phone.
In many Englewood houses the main valve is in the basement or crawlspace where the line comes through the foundation wall, sometimes next to the meter. Some homes also have a curb stop near the street that only the utility should operate.
Shutoff map
| # | What it stops | Where it is | Handle type | Tested on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Whole house (main) | Basement, north wall, behind the furnace | Quarter-turn lever | |
| 2 | Kitchen sink, hot and cold | Under the sink, back wall | Small oval knobs | |
| 3 | Dishwasher | Under the kitchen sink, on the hot line | Knob | |
| 4 | Refrigerator ice maker | |||
| 5 | Washing machine | |||
| 6 | Water heater cold inlet | |||
| 7 | Each toilet | |||
| 8 | Each bathroom sink | |||
| 9 | Outdoor faucets (indoor valve) | |||
| 10 | Irrigation system |
Testing each valve
Turn gently
Close the valve slowly. Old multi-turn valves can break if forced. A quarter-turn lever is closed when it sits across the pipe.
Confirm it works
Open the faucet or flush the toilet it controls. Water should stop within a few seconds.
Reopen and check for drips
Old valves sometimes start dripping at the stem after being moved. A gentle snug of the packing nut usually stops it.
Note anything that sticks or leaks
Valves that will not close fully or drip after use are worth replacing on a calm day, not during a leak.
Common questions
Can I close the curb stop at the street myself?
It usually belongs to the utility and needs a special key. Call the utility if your main inside the house will not close.
What if I find a valve and do not know what it controls?
Close it briefly and walk the house turning on faucets and flushing toilets until you find what stopped. Write it down, then reopen the valve. Unknown valves are often for a long-gone fixture or an outdoor line.
General information for Englewood, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.