Louisiana Residents Need to Locate Valve in Yard Before Hard Freeze

(Lafayette, Louisiana) - With more arctic air in the forecast for later this week, residents need to locate something in their yard before we experience another hard freeze.

Let's just admit it: we aren't accustomed to hard freezes in South Louisiana, but they do happen occasionally. If you own or rent a home, you need to be prepared for the worst in case of a freeze.

During hurricanes, we prepare for flooding and wind damage, but when it comes to hard freezes, we can sometimes overlook or forget a few things. So, let's highlight one of the most important things you can do at home when a hard freeze is in the forecast.

We were recently preparing our home for a winter storm when I decided to locate the water shut-off valve in the yard because, in 2025, when we received nearly a foot of snow, a pipe under a sink froze, and that could have been a disaster.

Knowing that, I wanted to locate the water shut-off valve in my yard in case a pipe burst, and I could stop the water flow into my house. Well, for the few years we've been at our current residence, I've always assumed the valve in my front yard was my go-to in case I have to cut off the water, but it's not.

The valve you see here is the city's meter box, which records your water use each month. While you can cut the water off to your home in this box, it is locked by the city. And when I noticed it was locked, I was shocked to learn that I might not be able to cut off the water to my house if a pipe bursts.

After recognizing this potential challenge, I looked in a few neighbors' yards and noticed that they have the city's meter box, but also another valve nearby, so that in the event of an emergency, they could stop water from flowing through their plumbing. However, I did not see a second valve or box in my yard.

For a few days, I looked everywhere, even in the flower beds, in hopes of finding my own valve box. Then, Youngsville Mayor Ken Riter posted a great reminder on social media explaining why you have two cutoff valves for your home. This is important to know as we prepare for freezes, and I was now on a mission to locate my cutoff valve that is not locked.

So, after my show on the radio, I picked up the phone and called 1-Tom Plumber, and I spoke to Jackson, who is much more knowledgeable about plumbing than I ever will be, and he told me that every new home must have its own separate valve to cut off the water. When I told him I did not see a second shut-off valve near the city's meter, he said it was likely there, but buried in the grass.

If you know me, you know that I keep my yard cut and clean, that I am always in my yard during the Spring and Summer, and that I have never seen or felt another valve buried in the yard. Still, that did not stop me from taking Jackson's advice from 1-Tom Plumber, and as soon as I returned from work, I went directly to the city's meter box in my front yard and started to drive a screwdriver into the ground.

I was told that the homeowner's shut-off valve would indeed be located just a few inches or a foot from the city's meter box and that the homeowner's valve would be between the water meter and the house. Lo and behold, I have a few times punched the ground with a screwdriver, hit something, and knew it was the lid to my water valve. Yes, it was buried just a few inchs unrter the grass.

If you own or rent a house, it is vital that you locate your cutoff valve for the winter. Homes in the south aren't insulated as well as those built in the north, and even newer homes' pipes can be subjected to very cold temperatures. With that said, get out, locate your cutoff valve, and rest assured you can prevent damage to your home if a pipe does burst.

Here I am in my yard, locating the valve that was covered in grass. I hope this helps if you are on the search, like I was.