How Do I Shut off Water in a Plumbing Emergency?

The main shutoff valve controls water for your entire home. It is typically located near the water meter, often in a utility closet, crawl space, or along an exterior wall. In some homes, the valve sits outside near the street, protected by a cover.

Find this valve now, before an emergency happens. Walk around your property and check obvious spots: where the water line enters the house, near the water heater, or along an exterior wall. Write down the location and keep the note handy. Knowing exactly where it is saves precious minutes when water is pouring.

If the leak is only at one sink, toilet, or appliance, you may not need to shut off the whole house. Look for small valves on the supply lines under the sink or behind the toilet. Turn these clockwise to close them. This keeps water flowing to the rest of your home while you work.

For a leaking toilet, the valve is usually on the wall behind the toilet, or on the floor near the base. For a washing machine or dishwasher, check the hot and cold supply valves on the wall. Shutting these off stops the flow to that fixture quickly, which is often enough to contain the emergency.

• Sink: valves under the counter, often two separate hot and cold handles
• Toilet: valve on the wall or floor behind the bowl
• Washing machine: two valves on the wall behind the unit
• Dishwasher: valve under the sink or in the cabinet beside it
• Refrigerator with ice maker: valve behind the fridge or under the sink

Once the water is off, assess the damage. Dry surfaces with towels and mops, and move furniture away from wet areas. If water has soaked into drywall, carpets, or wood, it can lead to mold quickly. The pros can help with extraction and drying to prevent further issues.

Policies vary, and your insurer decides what is covered. If you have significant water damage, document the scene with photos and notes. Then contact a local water damage pro for an inspection. They can assess the extent and recommend cleanup steps. Acting fast reduces long-term problems.

• Use fans and open windows to speed drying
• Move rugs and furniture to dry areas
• Take photos of the leak and damaged areas for your records
• Turn off electricity to wet rooms if safe to do so
• Avoid walking on soaked carpets to prevent spreading water