Learn where every shutoff in your home is
About 30 minutes
The highest-value 30 minutes a homeowner ever spends. You do this before the emergency, not during.
Printable steps & toolsWatch it done
How to Locate Your Main Water Shut-Off · Western Virginia Water Authority
Watch it done → Practice now
Do these 3 things next
- Walk to your main water shutoff and turn it a quarter turn to prove it moves.
- Photograph it and the electrical panel with the location in the caption.
- Show one other person in the house where both are.
Say it while you work: muna — house
Steps
- Find the main water shutoff — usually where the supply enters the house or at the street meter.
- Locate individual shutoffs under sinks and behind toilets, and turn each one to confirm it moves.
- Find the electrical panel and label every breaker with a helper flipping and calling out rooms.
- If you have gas, find the main gas valve and the wrench that fits it — keep the wrench beside it.
- Photograph each location and share the photos with everyone in the household.
When to call a professional
Electrical work
Most of this is yours to do. Call someone licensed if any one of these is true — it's a judgement call, not a defeat.
- The breaker trips again after you reset it once.
- You see scorch marks, melted plastic, or smell burning.
- The wiring is cloth-covered, aluminum, or has no ground.
- The work is inside the main panel or the meter.
General guidance only. Local codes and conditions vary. If work involves electrical, gas, structural, HVAC or plumbing systems — or if anything feels beyond your comfort — stop and hire a licensed professional.
Bumada Bridge
Want to learn this in Garifuna?
muna — house
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