Water on the floor makes anyone rush. A few calm steps in the first minutes keep the damage small and make the repair quicker.
Stop the water at the fixture
If the leak comes from one fixture, close the small valve that feeds it. Toilets, sinks, the dishwasher and the fridge line each have a stop valve on the wall or floor behind them. Turn it clockwise until it stops.
If you can't tell where the water comes from, or a pipe has burst, go straight to the main shut-off for the house.
Find the main shut-off
In many Valley homes the main shut-off sits outside, on the wall where the water line comes up out of the ground, near the front hose bib. Some homes have it in the garage, beside the water heater or the softener. Find yours on a quiet day and make sure it turns.
The valve at the street meter belongs to the water utility and needs a meter key. Leave it alone unless the valve at the house won't close.
Keep power and gas out of it
If water reaches outlets, cords or the electrical panel, stay out of the wet area. Switch the power off at the breaker only if you can reach the panel from a dry spot.
If the water heater is the leak, turn it off before anything else. For an electric heater, switch off its breaker. For gas, turn the control knob to off or pilot. Then close the cold-water valve on top of the tank.
Drain the lines and move your things
With the main closed, open a faucet at the lowest point of the house to let the pipes empty. Put towels and buckets under the drip. Lift rugs, boxes and anything stored on the floor.
Take photos before you clean up
Photograph the leak, the wet floor and walls, and anything damaged. Your insurer will ask for them, and they show us what happened before we arrive.
Then call
Rattlesnake Plumbing answers a 24-hour emergency line at (623) 707-3869. Tell us what you see, what you've shut off, and whether water still runs. We'll talk through the next step with you.
More about our emergency plumbing service.
