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Guide · Home care

Water Shutoffs and Leak Detection

A friendly, practical guide to finding the main and fixture water shutoffs, using leak sensors, checking the water meter for hidden leaks, and acting fast when water goes where it shouldn’t.

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Where to start

The short version

In a water emergency, the first few minutes matter most. Knowing your shutoffs makes all the difference.

Find the main shutoff, and the small valves under sinks, behind toilets, at the washer and on the water heater.

Tag them, keep them reachable, and save a photo of the main shutoff in your phone.

If water is leaking, turn off the closest valve, stay away from water near electricity, and call the owner right away.

Rules about water damage differ from place to place, so we’d gently encourage a quick look at the rules where your home is. If you ever have questions, we would love to help.

Four simple rules

  1. 1
    Find the main shutoff today

    Know where it is, how it turns and who can reach it.

  2. 2
    Know the small valves too

    Sinks, toilets, the washer and the water heater usually have their own.

  3. 3
    Tag them

    A bright tag on each valve helps anyone find it fast.

  4. 4
    Act fast, then share

    Turn off the water first, then call the owner and follow up in writing.

Try it

Shutoffs and leaks checklist

From the guide’s own checklist. Tick each one as you go. Your ticks stay on this device. These are examples; your home may need others.

0 of 11

If water is leaking right now

  1. Take a breath. Turn off the closest valve to the leak, like the one under the sink or behind the toilet.
  2. If you can’t find or reach it, turn off the main water shutoff.
  3. Stay away from water near outlets or cords, and turn off power at the breaker only if you can reach it from a dry spot. Water near electricity is an emergency.
  4. Soak up what you can, and move belongings out of the way.
  5. Take photos and video of the leak and any damage.
  6. Call the owner right away, and follow up in writing.

You did exactly the right thing.

Finding hidden leaks

  1. The meter test: turn off every faucet and water appliance, note the water meter reading, and check it again an hour later. If it moved, there may be a hidden leak. Ask the owner first if you aren’t sure where the meter is.
  2. The toilet dye test: put a few drops of food coloring in the toilet tank. If color shows up in the bowl after 10 minutes without flushing, the toilet is leaking. Flush right after the test so the color does not stain the tank.
  3. Washer hoses: check them for bulges, cracks or leaks.

Small leaks are the easiest to fix.

Test yourself

How much do you remember?

4 quick questions from this guide, with a one line why for each. Totally optional, no sign in, and your answers are never saved.

From The Perfect Series

Go deeper with The Perfect Seasonal Home Care Checklist Workbook

Simple, step by step checklists you can write in, one topic at a time, to help any home stay warm, safe and dry through every season.

See The Perfect Seasonal Home Care Checklist WorkbookAll books in The Perfect Series

Keep the full guide handy

The PDF has everything: everyday habits, what to do when something goes wrong, common myths, helpful resources and plenty of real-world tips. Print it, save it or share it with anyone who could use it.

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This guide shares general information to help you, and is not legal, plumbing or insurance advice. Please call a qualified plumber for repairs. Bunklow does not inspect or repair plumbing.

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