Whole-Home Water Shutoff Guide: Prepare Before a Plumbing Emergency

A plumbing emergency is the wrong time to discover that nobody knows where the main water shutoff is. A few minutes of preparation can reduce the amount of water entering a home after a failed pipe or fixture.

Home water shutoff checklist

• Locate the main water shutoff and make sure adult household members know where it is.

• Keep the area around the valve clear and accessible.

• Label the valve if its purpose is not obvious.

• If the valve is corroded, leaking, or difficult to operate, have a qualified plumber service it before an emergency occurs.

• Know which fixture-level shutoffs serve toilets, sinks, washing machines, and other appliances so smaller leaks can sometimes be isolated without shutting off the entire house.

After the water is stopped

Stopping the source does not remove water already absorbed into flooring, drywall, insulation, cabinets, or framing. Photograph the loss and have affected materials evaluated if water has spread beyond a small surface spill.

If a plumbing loss affects building materials, schedule an inspection with Phoenix to determine whether extraction or structural drying is needed.