Had a burst 3/4" copper elbow at 2:11 a.m. last night; capped it with a push-to-connect stop in under 5 minutes after a 12-minute response, and the unit was drying by 3. I’m sharing because the first move matters under pressure — what’s your go-to before I arrive when the main isn’t obvious, so we can get it under control fast?
When the “main isn’t obvious”, I head straight to the street meter and crank the curb stop 90° with locking pliers; if it’s buried or frozen (), shut the water heater cold inlet and crack a hot tap to bleed pressure. That’s usually under two minutes and buys time for a push‑to‑connect like your 2:11 a.m. elbow; if they’ve never touched a meter, this is a clean walkthrough: https://www.thisoldhouse.com/plumbing/21015436/how-to-shut-off-water. Do you keep a curb key onsite or mark meter lids with paint so night crews don’t hunt?
I stash a Ziploc with a 3x8 rubber strip (cut from an old washer hose) and two stainless hose clamps under the kitchen sink; on a 3/4" copper elbow at 2 a.m., that wrap will choke it to a manageable drip in under a minute while we locate the main. It won’t hold right up against a fitting shoulder or on a jagged split, but it usually buys the 5 minutes you need for a push-to-connect stop. Do you keep a tiny “first move matters” kit on-site?