It's always better to be safe than sorry, as the old saying goes. Even though we don't intend to use them, we have airbags in all of our cars. Your home's plumbing system has the same safety features to protect you from costly or unexpected water damage.

Even if you're not a plumber, it is important to know the location of all shut-off valves in your home. These valves can stop water from flowing through your pipes and prevent them from reaching fixtures such as toilets, faucets, or showerheads. There are two types of shut-off valves. We'll show you how to find them both in this article.

Main water shut-off valve

The main water shut-off valve in your home can turn off the water supply to your entire house. This shut-off valve should be located on the ground floor or basement, near the main water line. Refer to your home inspection report that you received at the time you bought the house. It may contain the shut-off valve labeled or marked.

Once you have located the main shut-off valve, be sure not to hide it behind a wall or block it with large objects. You should immediately locate the main shut-off valve if you have a serious plumbing problem, such as a burst pipe. This will allow you to quickly turn off the water supply and prevent any further damage.

Fixture shut-off valves

The main water shut-off valve controls water throughout the house, but many fixtures have their own valves that turn off the water at that particular location. These are great for when you need to replace or repair a fixture but don't want to interrupt the flow of water throughout the house.

Sink faucets, toilets, and washing machines are just a few of the fixtures with shut-off valves. The valve can be found behind or under the fixture. It may look like a small wheel that you turn or a lever. Each line will have its own shut-off valve if the fixture is hot or cold.

It is a good idea to have everyone know where the shut-off valves are in your house. You can quickly turn the valve to prevent a minor plumbing problem from turning into a costly, major mess.