How to shut off your water, fast

Stopping the water is the single most useful thing you can do in the first minute. Here's where to look and how to close it.

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1
Find the main shutoff
Look where the water line enters the house: on the basement front wall, in the garage, near the water heater, in a utility closet or crawl space. In warm climates it may be outside on an exterior wall or in a box near the street by the meter.
2
Close it
Round wheel handle: turn clockwise until it stops. Lever handle: turn it a quarter turn so it sits across the pipe. A street-box valve may need a meter key.
3
Shut off just one fixture if you can
Toilets, sinks, washers and dishwashers usually have small valves right behind or under them. Turn clockwise to close.
4
Water heater
Close the cold water valve on top of the heater, then turn off its breaker (electric) or set the gas control to off or pilot.
5
Power, carefully
Turn off breakers for wet rooms only if the panel is dry and you are standing on a dry floor. If the panel is wet or in water, stay away and call the utility.
6
Open a faucet
Open a faucet on the bottom floor to drain the lines and take pressure off the leak.

10-second triage

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10-second triage

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