A pipe bursts. A supply line fails under the sink. Water is on the floor and rising. The single most important thing you can do in the first sixty seconds is find the shutoff and turn off the water. Every second of delay is more water — and more damage. This guide tells you exactly where to look and what to do.
⚠️ Water Emergency? Do This Right Now
If water is actively flooding: locate the nearest fixture shutoff valve and turn it clockwise until closed. If you can't find it or it won't turn, go directly to your main water shutoff. Instructions for both are below. Then call West Coast Plumbing at 707-750-9900.
Your First 4 Steps in a Plumbing Emergency
Try the Fixture Shutoff First
Every toilet, sink, and appliance has its own shutoff valve. These are faster to reach than the main shutoff and let you isolate the problem without cutting water to the whole house. If you can see where the water is coming from, go to that fixture's shutoff first.
If You Can't Find It — Go to the Main Shutoff
If the fixture shutoff isn't accessible, you can't find it, or it won't turn, go straight to the main water shutoff for the house. This cuts all water flow immediately. You'll lose water to the whole home, but that's far better than continued flooding.
Open a Faucet to Relieve Pressure
After shutting off the main, open a faucet on the lowest floor of the house — a utility sink, bathtub, or hose bib. This relieves residual pressure in the lines and drains remaining water, stopping additional flow even after the shutoff is closed.
Document, Then Call
Before you start cleaning up, take photos and video of all water damage. Your insurance company will need documentation of the damage as it occurred — not after you've mopped. Then call West Coast Plumbing at 707-750-9900 for same-day emergency service.
Where to Find Your Main Water Shutoff
The main shutoff cuts water supply to your entire home. Most Sonoma County homeowners have never needed to use it — which means many don't know where it is. Find it now, before an emergency.
Individual Fixture Shutoff Valves — Where to Find Each One
| Fixture | Where the Shutoff Is | How to Close It |
|---|---|---|
| Toilet | On the supply line coming out of the wall behind or beside the base | Turn clockwise until fully closed |
| Bathroom sink | Under the cabinet, on the supply lines going up to the faucet — one for hot, one for cold | Turn each clockwise until closed |
| Kitchen sink | Under the sink cabinet, on both hot and cold supply lines | Turn clockwise until closed |
| Dishwasher | Under the kitchen sink, on the hot water supply line — or at the water line connection behind the unit | Turn clockwise until closed |
| Washing machine | Behind the machine or in a wall box — two valves, hot and cold, with lever or wheel handles | Turn clockwise or 90° depending on type |
| Water heater | On the cold water supply line entering the top of the unit | Turn clockwise (or lever to perpendicular) |
| Refrigerator / ice maker | Behind the fridge or under the sink where the supply line runs | Turn clockwise until closed |
| Outdoor hose bib | Either at the bib itself or on the interior wall shutoff feeding it | Turn clockwise until fully closed |
Gate Valve vs. Ball Valve — Why It Matters
Not all shutoff valves are equal. In an emergency, the type of valve you have determines how fast you can stop the water.
Know Your Valve Type
Ball valve (lever handle): Requires a single 90-degree turn to go from fully open to fully closed. Fast, reliable, and the current standard. If the lever is parallel to the pipe, water is flowing. If it's perpendicular, it's closed.
Gate valve (round wheel handle): Requires multiple full rotations to close. Slower in an emergency. These older valves are prone to seizing and can fail after years of non-use. If your main shutoff is a gate valve, consider having it replaced — it's a straightforward upgrade that pays for itself the first time you need it.
What to Do After the Water Is Off
- Photograph and video all visible water damage before touching anything
- Call West Coast Plumbing — 707-750-9900 — for emergency repair
- Call your homeowner's insurance to open a claim if damage is significant
- Begin removing standing water with towels and a wet/dry vac if safe to do so
- Open windows, run fans — begin drying immediately; don't wait for the insurance adjuster
- Do not use electrical outlets or appliances in rooms with standing water
- If water reached a wall cavity or subfloor, professional drying equipment is needed to prevent mold
One Thing to Do Right Now (Before You Need It)
Find your main shutoff valve today. Write its location somewhere every member of your household can find it — on the inside of a cabinet door, in your phone's notes, or on a card near the electrical panel. Then turn it once to confirm it operates freely.
It takes three minutes. During a burst pipe, those three minutes are the difference between a manageable repair and a gutted floor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about water shutoffs and plumbing emergencies in Sonoma County.