How to Find and Turn Off Your Main Water Shutoff

Every homeowner should be familiar with the main shutoff in their home. To find the main shutoff, it is most often located in the front of the house in the basement, by the water meter. When going away on vacation, make sure to turn off the cold water main to avoid an unsupervised leak and possible water damage. If you find a leak in your home, immediately turn off the water main, and call a licensed plumber.

Located below every fixture in your home should be an independent shutoff, which controls the water flow to that particular fixture. If a leak is isolated to one fixture, turn off the independent shutoff, rather than the main cold water shutoff.