Most families find the water shutoff on the day a pipe bursts. By then the water is on the floor and nobody is sure which handle to turn. This guide is about doing that search now, while nothing is wrong.

Local option: New Plan Care gives families in the St. Louis area in-home help so a parent can stay home: companionship, help with bathing and dressing, meals, and overnight care. Call (314) 405-0887.

What to find

  • The main water valve where the supply line enters the house, often in a basement, crawl space, utility closet, or along an outside wall.
  • The gas shutoff at the meter or on the branch line to the furnace, water heater, range, or dryer.
  • The electrical panel and the main breaker inside it.
  • The shutoff valves under sinks and behind the toilet, and the supply valves for the washing machine.
  • The water heater supply valve and its drain.

Mark each one so a stranger can find it

Put a bright tag or label on each valve and on each panel door, written in plain words such as main water, gas meter, or electrical panel. Take one photo of each location with the handle visible and keep copies in the house folder and on the phone of the person who lives there. If a valve is hard to reach, clear the path now. Nobody should have to move a box or a rug to stop a leak.

Test them on a calm day

A valve that has not moved in years can seize or leak when it is finally turned. Test on a day when nothing is urgent. Turn the main water valve a little and back, and watch for drips at the stem. If a valve will not move, do not force it. Write that down and have a plumber replace it. Repeat the check for each fixture valve.

For gas, do not test the valve yourself. Ask the gas utility how service is restored after a shutoff, and write the answer on the sheet. That answer tells you whether a shutoff is a short repair or a longer wait, so it belongs in the plan before you need it.

Decide who is allowed to turn what

Name one person for each shutoff. In most households that is the owner of the home or the adult who manages the house. Write the name beside the location. If a caregiver is in the home when water is running or a gas smell is noticed, the first call goes to the named person, then to the plumber or the utility as the sheet says. A caregiver should never be the only person in the house who knows where a shutoff is.

Ask the agency these questions

  • Is turning a water, gas, or electrical shutoff part of the written scope, or is it outside it?
  • If water is running or a gas smell is noticed, what does your staff do first, and who do they call?
  • Will the staff member tell the family before touching any valve, except where waiting would clearly cause more damage?
  • Where does the agency write down an incident such as a leak, and who receives the written report?
  • Does your insurance cover property damage caused by your staff, and can I see the certificate before I sign?

Keep the sheet working

Put the list on one page with each location, the named person, and the phone numbers for the plumber, the electrician, the gas utility, and the water utility. Review it every month. Check that the tags are still attached, the paths are still clear, and the names still apply. Replace a worn tag the day you see it. When someone moves in, moves out, or changes role, update the sheet that day. A list nobody checks is the same as no list.

Checklist

  • Every shutoff found, tagged, and photographed
  • Path to each one clear of boxes, rugs, and furniture
  • Each valve tested on a calm day, with any failures written down
  • Gas restoration steps written down from the utility
  • One named person for each shutoff
  • The agency's answers on scope, reporting, and insurance written beside the sheet
  • Sheet reviewed every month by the same named owner

How we rate agencies on how plainly they talk about money is explained on the How We Rate page. The sheet above is about the house, not the ranking.