Florida Plumbing Emergency Guide

Find Every Shutoff in Your Home

Know where your valves are before you need them. Florida homeowners typically have 8–12 shutoff points.

Main Supply Shutoffs

Main House Shutoff (shuts off ALL water): In Florida homes, almost always on the garage wall where the supply pipe enters from the slab. May also be in a utility room, hallway closet, or near the water heater. Look for a ball valve (lever handle) or gate valve (round wheel). Ball valve: lever parallel to pipe = OPEN; perpendicular = CLOSED. Gate valve: turn clockwise to close (4–8 full turns). Test it annually — old gate valves can fail or seize.

Water Meter (Curb Stop): Outside, in a rectangular ground box near the street/sidewalk. Requires a flat-head screwdriver or meter key/shutoff tool to turn. Turn clockwise to close. Buy a water meter key ($8–$15) and keep it in your garage.

Individual Fixture Shutoffs

Under Every Sink: Two angle-stop valves (hot and cold) inside each cabinet. Turn clockwise to close. After shutting off, open the faucet to release remaining pressure.

Behind Each Toilet: Small oval/football-shaped valve at base. Turn clockwise (stops water to tank only). Emergency shortcut: lift tank lid and push down the flapper to stop an overflow immediately.

Water Heater: Two valves at top — cold IN (right) and hot OUT (left). Turn cold inlet clockwise to stop supply. When shutting off main, turn off water heater first (gas: "pilot"; electric: flip breaker). Never run a water heater dry. Check the T&P relief valve on the side — if dripping, call a plumber.

Appliances: Dishwasher supply valve usually under kitchen sink on hot line. Washing machine: hot/cold hose bibs on wall behind machine. Refrigerator ice maker: saddle valve or supply stop behind fridge. Irrigation: backflow preventer valve in garage or exterior wall. Outdoor hose bibs: supply stop inside the wall, usually in the garage in FL.

Valve Type Quick Guide

Ball Valve (Lever Handle): Lever parallel to pipe = OPEN. Perpendicular = CLOSED. Quarter-turn operation. Most modern FL homes use these.

Gate Valve (Round Wheel): Turn clockwise to close; counter-clockwise to open. Usually 4–8 full turns. Prone to seizing if not turned regularly.

Supply Stop / Angle Stop: Found under sinks and behind toilets. Turn clockwise to close. If stiff, use padded pliers — don't force.

After the Emergency

1. Document for Insurance (before any cleanup): Photograph and video ALL damage before touching anything. Document personal property. Time-stamp everything. Keep damaged items in place until adjuster says ok. Save all receipts. FL Insurance Note: HO-3 policies (most FL) cover sudden/accidental pipe bursts, but FL's insurance market is in crisis with specific exclusions; policies typically do NOT cover gradual leaks. Open a claim same day if possible.

2. Mold Timeline in Florida: Mold colonization can begin within 24 hours of water damage. 0–24 hrs: begin drying immediately (wet-vac, fans, dehumidifiers). 24–48 hrs: mold colonization can begin in wet drywall, wood, carpet — consider professional drying. 48–72 hrs: visible mold growth likely; remediation probably required. 72+ hrs: structural materials (studs, subfloor, framing) may need replacement.

3. Temporary Repairs While You Wait: Burst pipe — pipe repair clamps ($15–$25) can temporarily seal a crack. Slow drip at joint — plumber's epoxy putty. Toilet supply line burst — close the supply stop behind the toilet, replace supply line (under $10). What NOT to use: duct tape, electrical tape, rubber bands, or J-B Weld on pressurized water lines.

4. What to Tell the Plumber: Your address (including gate/community code), what happened and when, where water came from, whether water is still flowing or shut off, age of home and pipe material, whether water heater/softener/irrigation affected, any visible water damage.

5. Finding a Licensed Plumber in FL: Verify license at myfloridalicense.com — look for a CFC license. Ask for written estimate before work begins (required by FL law for work over $1,000). Avoid door-to-door contractors after a storm (FL contractor fraud laws, FS 489.147). Unlicensed work voids homeowner's insurance claims. FL contractor fraud is a felony — report to DBPR.

Burst or Leaking Pipe — What To Do RIGHT NOW

1. TURN OFF THE WATER — find main shutoff (garage wall, utility room, or water meter), turn fully clockwise.
2. Turn off water heater (gas: "pilot"; electric: switch off breaker).
3. Open the lowest faucet (outside hose bib or garage sink) to drain remaining water and relieve pressure.
4. Water near electrical? DO NOT enter that area. Call 911 if any electrical risk.
5. Document everything (photos/video) before cleanup.
6. Call a licensed plumber.
7. Begin drying immediately — mold can start in 24 hours.

Do NOT: use electrical switches/appliances near standing water; solder/repair copper without shutting off main; wait if water is near electrical panel; turn water back on without knowing where the break is; use duct/electrical tape on pressurized lines.

Sewage Backup / Overflow — Health Hazard

1. STOP using all water and plumbing immediately.
2. If sewage actively overflowing, do not flush or add water.
3. Evacuate the affected area — sewage contains E. coli, Hepatitis A, Norovirus. Keep children/pets out.
4. If overflow significant, call a plumber AND your local water utility (may be a municipal sewer issue — city responsible for their side).
5. Do NOT use chemical drain cleaners — won't clear a main line and create a chemical-sewage hazmat hazard.
6. Open windows for ventilation; don't run HVAC if smell entered ductwork.
7. Document with photos/video before cleanup.
8. After clearing, sanitize; discard soft goods (rugs, upholstery) that contacted raw sewage.

FL Heavy Rain Alert: Sewage backup during heavy rains may indicate municipal sewer surcharge — call your city's emergency water/sewer line. Don't use bleach directly on sewage (creates toxic chloramine gas).

Flooding / Water Everywhere

1. Identify the source (pipe, water heater, appliance).
2. Shut off water at the source (appliance valve or main).
3. Disconnect power to affected areas if water near outlets/panel — flip breakers; don't step into standing water with electrical risk.
4. Move valuables and furniture off wet floors; lift furniture legs with foil or plastic.
5. Document everything FIRST.
6. Call homeowner's insurance to open a claim.
7. Begin water removal (wet-vac, fans, dehumidifiers) — FL humidity may require mold remediation within 48 hours.
8. Call a licensed plumber to find and fix the source.

Don't run HVAC if air handler/ducts have been wet — spreads mold.

Gas Smell (Plumbing-Related) — CALL 911

1. Do not turn on/off any lights or electrical switches (spark risk).
2. Do NOT use your phone inside the building — exit first, then call.
3. Evacuate everyone immediately; leave doors open as you exit.
4. Once outside at a safe distance (at least 300 feet), call 911 AND your gas utility: Peoples Gas/FPL Gas 1-800-427-7712; TECO Peoples Gas 1-877-832-6747; Florida City Gas 1-800-993-7546.
5. Do NOT re-enter until the gas utility or fire department clears it.
6. After clearance, a licensed plumber or gas contractor must inspect all gas connections and re-light appliances; do not re-light your water heater or stove yourself until pressure-tested.

Don't try to find the leak, use anything electrical, start your car in an attached garage, or assume a faint smell is minor.

No Water / Water Shut Off — Diagnose First

1. Check your neighbors — if they also have no water, it's a utility outage.
2. Check your water meter — is the supply valve open? Is the meter spinning?
3. Check your main shutoff inside — verify it's fully open (a partially closed ball valve reduces pressure).
4. Check for unpaid bills (utility can shut off service).
5. If all valves open and neighbors have water — possible failed pressure reducing valve (PRV), severe leak causing backpressure, or failed pump (well systems). Call a plumber.
6. Call a licensed plumber for same-day diagnosis.

After a hurricane: utility water may be shut off for public safety; don't drink tap water until the utility confirms safe (broken pipes can allow contamination). Don't run well pumps dry.

Overflowing Toilet Won't Stop — Act in 30 Seconds

1. Remove the tank lid and push down the flapper — immediately stops water into the bowl.
2. Turn the supply valve behind the toilet clockwise to close.
3. If overflowing because blocked, do not flush again.
4. Use a cup-style plunger — fill bowl half-full, seal drain, 10–15 firm plunges, pull up sharply on last stroke.
5. If plunging fails after 2 attempts, the clog is deeper or a main line issue — check if other drains are slow.
6. Supply valve and tank flapper are standard homeowner maintenance.

Main Line Clue: If toilet is overflowing AND sinks drain slowly — almost certainly a main sewer line blockage. Do not plunge. Call a plumber. Don't use chemical drain cleaners or a flat-bottom plunger.

Slab Leak Suspected — Urgent But Not Immediate

Signs of a slab leak: warm/hot spot on floor (even through carpet/tile); sound of running water when all fixtures off; water meter spinning with all water off; unexplained water bill increase (20–50%+); cracks in flooring/tiles/baseboards; mold smell at floor level; damp/soft areas in carpet.

Steps: 1. Verify with the meter test (turn off ALL water, note meter, wait 30 min — if it moved, active leak). 2. If confirmed, shut off main water supply. 3. Do not attempt to access the slab yourself — requires electronic leak detection (acoustic, thermal imaging). 4. Call a licensed plumber for electronic leak detection. 5. Document your water bills (pull 6 months). 6. Understand repair options — in South FL, "rerouting" through attic/walls is often preferred over breaking the slab.

South FL Slab Leak Reality: Slab leaks are extremely common — limestone, sandy soil, and chloraminated municipal water accelerate copper pipe corrosion in concrete slabs. Most FL homes with original copper supply pipes will experience at least one slab leak. Don't break into the slab yourself or use a plumber who jackhammers without electronic leak detection first.