Water everywhere? Turn off your water now.
A water leak feels chaotic. Wet floors. Panic. That awful sound.
This page helps you shut off the water quickly.
Then we fix the cause properly. No band-aids.
📞 Call 24/7: (07) 5580 4311
📩 Email: service@whywait.com.au
📅 Book online: /contact-whywait-plumbing/
Tip: If you’ve got flooding or a burst flexi hose, call now. Forms can be slower.
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Jump to what you need to know
Jump to what you need (no scrolling marathon):
Quick answer first
If water is spraying or flooding, shut off the nearest valve first. Often, that’s under a sink, toilet, or laundry tap set.
If you don’t have individual isolation valves or can’t find them fast, turn off the main at the council meter.
That stops the whole house. Simple, brutal, effective.
If you can’t stop the water flow, call us now.
Do this first (60 seconds)
Checklist: Water leaks feel loud and messy. This keeps you safe, then stops the water.
✅ Keep people safe. Wet tiles are vicious. Move kids and pets away.
✅ If water is near power points, don’t touch it. Switch the power off only if it is safe to do so at the switchboard.
✅ Shut off the closest valve you can reach. Check under the sink or vanity basin, behind the toilet or under the laundry tub.
✅ If you can’t find a fixture isolation valve fast, go to the council meter. Turn off the main shut-off valve to isolate the water supply to the entire property.
✅ Once off, open a cold tap for 10–20 seconds. It drops pressure and can slow further water damage.
✅ If you can’t stop the water flow, call us now. We’re Gold Coast locals, and we answer 24/7.
Tip: If an isolation valve feels stuck, avoid exerting excessive force on it. A snapped valve turns a leak into a flood.
The four valve terms that matter
Council Water Meter Box
Usually near the front boundary. Often in the grass verge and on either the left or right.
Main shut-off valve
Turns off water to the whole property. Usually located in front of the water meter.
Boundary Pressure Reducing Isolation Valve
These valves are typically found only in homes built within the last eight years. You’ll often see them low on a front-side wall, near where the water main enters the house.
Isolation Valve
Turns off one fixture. Like a toilet or fridge, plus the hot and cold taps, vanity basin or laundry taps. They can also be used on a washing machine, dishwasher or ice machine.
Houses: how to turn off water at the meter
Most homes on the Gold Coast have a council meter located near the front of the property. The shut-off valve is in that meter box.
✅ 1: Find the meter box near the street.
✅ 2: Lift the lid carefully. Gloves help. Spiders and cane toads love these meter boxes.
✅ 3: If the box is filled with sand or silt, use a small garden trowel to dig out and remove to expose the meter and isolation valve.
✅ 4: Locate the shut-off valve near the front of the meter.
✅ 5: Turn the valve to OFF, slowly. If the valve lever is tight, gently turning it using a set of pliers will help add extra torque pressure.
✅ 6: Go to the closest outside hose tap or to an inside bathroom and test a cold tap. It should run, then stop.
Don’t force a stuck lever valve hard. It can snap. Then it’s worse.
Water still running? Call (07) 5580 4311 for 24/7 help.
Units & apartments: where the isolation valves hide
Most units have isolation valves under the sink, basin or laundry tub. Look for small tap-style handles on the pipes. Turn off the tap or isolation valve in the cupboard, then test the tap above.
Behind the toilet is often a small valve under the cistern with a flexi hose connecting to the cistern. Turn it off clockwise. Test by flushing once. If you can’t see the tap under the cistern, it will likely be located inside the cistern. Lift off the cistern lid and locate the valve, then turn it off clockwise.
Laundry valves are common shut-off points. They are generally located under the tub. They’re also common failure points. Funny, not funny.
Some have a small valve box near the entry. Some are inside a garage cupboard. Newer complexes will have council sub-meters which will be in a meter box or visible on an external wall. If you can’t find it, don’t stress. Most people can’t.
In modern buildings, there is generally a utility cupboard which will frequently have a hot and cold set of valves to isolate an apartment. Many high-rises use booster pumps and balancing valves. So pressure and shut-offs can feel confusing. Ask your building manager to locate the water isolation valves. Call us, and we’ll guide you. Even before we arrive.
After the water is off (this saves cabinets)
✅ Open a cold tap briefly to drop pressure.
✅ Take quick photos for insurance.
✅ Mop up standing water fast.
✅ If the hot water system is leaking, turn it off when it’s safe.
✅ Book Whywait Plumbing to fix the cause, not just the symptom.
Water damage spreads quietly.
And it gets expensive while you’re making dinner. That’s the trap.
Stuck valve? Here’s what to do
✅ Try a slow, steady turn. No jerking.
✅ Use a torch. See what you’re doing.
✅ If it’s jammed, stop and call us. Don’t persevere and cause more damage.
❌ Don’t reef on it until it snaps.
❌ Don’t use extreme force with long leverage.
❌ Don’t ignore it once it “sort of” shuts off.
Remember, isolation valves and stop taps are used infrequently, so it’s not unusual for them to be stiff or fully seized.
Prevent the next flood (future-you will thank you)
Most floods start with a small part failing. A flexi hose. A valve. A worn tap cartridge.
We can reduce your risk with:
✅ New isolation valves in logical places
✅ Replacement of ageing flexi hoses
✅ Pressure checks and PRV checks
✅ Leak detection if you suspect hidden water loss
Want a calmer home? Book a preventative plumbing check.
When to call Whywait
It’s time to call us if:
✅ You can’t shut the water off
✅ Water is leaking inside the walls or ceilings
✅ The meter valve is stuck or damaged
✅ You’ve had repeated hose or valve failures
✅ You want a clear answer, not another guess
You won’t be judged. Leaks happen. We stop them.
FAQs about turning off your water– Your Questions Answered
Usually near the front boundary in a ground box, often by the grass verge on the left boundary or right boundary.
It depends on the valve type. Turn slowly, then test a cold tap.
Use the closest isolation valve first. It’s faster than the meter.
If the hot water unit is leaking, yes, when it’s safe to do so.
Yes. We can add isolation valves to reduce damage next time.
If you’re experiencing leaks, pressure issues, or a burst pipe, these pages can provide helpful information.
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