When pipes burst, or when leaky fixtures or appliances cause a flood, you're left with a big cleanup and possibly a huge renovation bill. Therefore, the best solution is to take steps to prevent this type of disaster from occurring in the first place. The simplest way to accomplish this is to simply cut off the water at its source and then make the necessary repairs. In addition, if you're going on vacation or will otherwise be away from the house for an extended period of time, remember to shut off the water. That way, when you come back from your time away, you won’t have to worry about coming back to a days' long - or week's long - leak.

In order to shut off the water, you first need to make sure you know where all the shutoff valves are in your home. This way, you'll be prepared for an emergency if one should ever occur. With these simple tips, you will know where to look for the valves so you can get them shut off when the time comes.

If you're not sure where the leak is in your plumbing, you will need to use the whole-house shutoff valve in order to stop the water flow. If you have a well, the shutoff will be on the house side of the pressure tank. If you have metered water, you will find the shutoff on one side or the other of the water meter. Your meter could be located in the basement, on an exterior wall, or out by the street beneath a manhole cover, where the household line meets the water main.

Your water heater should also have a valve on the hot-water outlet, which controls all of the hot water to the house. If there isn't one on yours, you should seriously consider installing one so shutting off the water will be easier when necessary. The toilet shutoff valve is normally located beneath the toilet tank so you can reach it for easy access.

Washing machines are almost always connected to garden hose-like spigots, and the connections will most likely be in a recessed box on the wall either behind or to the side of the washer. Washer lines are the most apt to fail, so it's a good idea to replace the manufacturer provided lines with upgrades.

Sink shutoffs are ordinarily just beneath the sink or in the cabinet or vanity. The one on the left is usually for the hot water, the one on the right for cold water. If you find that some of your water lines lack shutoff valves, you may want to consider signing up for a plumbing course or two. That way, you can learn how to install shutoffs yourself and save a bundle.