How Do I Shut off My Home's Water During an Emergency?

Knowing your main shutoff valve's location is the most critical step. It is usually found where the main water supply pipe enters your home's foundation. Check common areas like the garage, utility room, or near the water heater. The valve itself is a round wheel for a gate valve or a lever for a ball valve. Familiarize yourself with it before a pipe bursts or a major leak occurs.

For a localized leak, you can shut off water at the specific fixture. Look for small valves on the supply lines beneath sinks, behind toilets, or near washing machines. Turning these valves clockwise stops water to that appliance or faucet only. This lets you keep water on to the rest of the house. If you cannot find a fixture's shutoff, you must use the main house valve.

• Under-sink cabinets often have two small valves for hot and cold water.
• Toilets have a single supply valve near the floor behind the bowl.
• Washing machine valves are typically on the wall behind the appliance.
• Water heaters have a dedicated cold water inlet valve on top.
• Outdoor hose bibs may have their own shutoff inside the home.
• Some newer homes have labeled shutoff panels for easier identification.

If a leak is extensive, involves contaminated water like sewage, or has soaked into walls and flooring, you need professional water damage restoration. Local water damage pros have industrial equipment for thorough extraction and drying. They can document the damage for an insurance claim. Policies vary, and your insurer decides what is covered. For a burst pipe or flooding, securing the water source is your first urgent task before cleanup begins.