How to find the water shutoff valve in your rental
When a pipe or hose breaks, the water keeps coming until someone turns it off. If you know where the valves are before anything happens, you can stop a leak in seconds instead of waiting for maintenance.
Start with the valves next to each fixture
Sinks and toilets usually have a small shutoff valve on the pipe right below them. Look in the cabinet under the kitchen and bathroom sinks, and on the wall behind the toilet. Washing machines and water heaters usually have one too.
These valves only stop the water to that one fixture. That's often all you need.
How to close a valve
- A round handle: turn it clockwise until it stops.
- A lever: turn it a quarter turn so it sits across the pipe.
- Behind a washer you'll often see two levers, one for hot and one for cold. Close both.
Turn each valve once when you move in to make sure it moves. If one is stuck or drips, tell your landlord. Don't force it.
Find the main shutoff
Every home has a main valve that shuts off all the water. In a house, it's where the main water line comes in, often in a basement, a garage, a utility closet or near the water heater. In an apartment building, it may be in a locked room.
Ask your landlord where it is and who can turn it off in an emergency. Write the answer down or save it in your phone.
Questions to ask your landlord
- Where is the main water shutoff, and can I reach it?
- Is there a separate valve for my water heater?
- What's the after hours number for a leak I can't stop?
Common questions
Which way do I turn a water shutoff valve?
Turn a round handle clockwise until it stops. Turn a lever a quarter turn so it sits across the pipe.
Where is the main water shutoff in an apartment?
It's often in a locked room or a utility area that tenants can't reach. Ask your landlord where it is and who can turn it off in an emergency.
Rent your home? Get the free move-in safety checklist. Own or manage rentals? SaferResident gives every tenant a 20 minute course on this, built around your building.
Sources
- How to Shut Off Your Water, Lakeway Municipal Utility District, Texas (public water utility)
- Home Water Shutoff Valve, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (city water utility)
- How to Prevent Interior Water Damage from Plumbing and Appliances, Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS)
- Safety Skills, Ready.gov (FEMA)
Updated October 1, 2026. General safety information. It doesn't replace your building's safety systems, local codes or your lease. In an emergency, call 911.