The one move that saves most homes

For almost every water emergency, the first step is the same: shut off the water. Know where your main shut-off is (usually near the meter at the street, or where the line enters the house) before you ever need it — and make sure everyone in the household knows too. For a single fixture, the stop valve under the sink or behind the toilet is faster. Stopping the flow turns a catastrophe into a cleanup. For a suspected gas leak, the priority is different: leave first, then call 911 and your gas utility from outside.