How to Prevent Plumbing Emergencies: 8 Steps Every Homeowner Should Take
By Mike Holt, NJ Master Plumber · March 1, 2024 · 3 min read · Updated November 1, 2026
Quick answer
Learn how to shut off the water to your house before you ever need to. Then test the shut-off valves under sinks and toilets, replace rubber washing machine hoses with braided steel, put leak sensors by the water heater and washer, keep grease and wipes out of the drains, and fix small leaks as soon as you see them.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- About 1 hour
- You need
- Flashlight, water leak sensors
Rather not risk it? A licensed plumber can handle this for you, with written upfront flat-rate pricing options before any work starts.
Water leaking right now? Close your main water shut-off (step 1 shows how), then call us. 908-873-6686
Most plumbing emergencies start small: a washing machine hose that's been bulging for months, a slow drip under a sink, a water heater past its prime. These eight steps take about an hour and catch most problems before they flood a floor.
8 steps to prevent plumbing emergencies
Step 1: Learn how to shut off the water to your house
Find the main shut-off where the water line comes into the house, usually in the basement next to the water meter. A round handle (gate valve) turns clockwise until it stops. A lever (ball valve) turns a quarter turn so it sits across the pipe. Try it now, and show everyone in the house where it is. If it's stuck, don't force it with a wrench. Call us to replace it.
Step 2: Test the shut-off valves under sinks and toilets
Every toilet and sink should have its own small shut-off valve, so you can stop one leak without turning off the whole house. Close each one and open it again once a year. Valves that sit untouched for years tend to seize or start dripping.
Step 3: Know your water heater's shut-off
The cold water pipe going into the top of the water heater has its own valve. Closing it stops water going into the tank if the tank starts leaking. For a gas heater, also find the gas valve on the supply line. For an electric heater, know which breaker it's on.
Step 4: Replace old washing machine hoses
Rubber washer hoses crack and burst with age, and a burst hose runs at full pressure until someone notices. Swap them for braided stainless steel hoses, check them once a year for bulges, and turn the washer valves off before you go away.
Step 5: Put leak sensors where leaks start
Battery water leak sensors sound an alarm, and some send a phone alert, as soon as they get wet. Put one next to the water heater, behind the washing machine, under the kitchen sink and near the sump pump.
Step 6: Watch what goes down the drains
Flush only toilet paper. "Flushable" wipes don't break down and are a common cause of sewer backups. Keep grease and food scraps out of the kitchen sink, put hair catchers in tubs and showers, and skip chemical drain cleaners, which can damage older pipes. See 5 tips for keeping your drains clog-free.
Step 7: Check for small leaks once a month
Look under sinks, around the base of toilets and around the water heater for drips, stains or soft spots. To check for hidden leaks, turn off every faucet and appliance and look at the water meter. If its dial or leak indicator is still moving, water is leaking somewhere. Our leak detection team can find it.
Step 8: Get ready for the seasons
Before winter, protect your pipes from freezing and winterize outdoor faucets. Before the spring rains, test the sump pump from a dry, safe spot by pouring a bucket of water into the pit. Don't touch a plug, outlet or pump if there's standing water. Our spring plumbing checklist covers the rest.
Should you get a yearly plumbing inspection?
If your home is older, has had leaks before, or you're not sure how old the water heater and pipes are, a yearly plumbing inspection is worth it. We check the shut-off valves, water heater, visible pipes, drains and water pressure, and tell you what needs attention now and what can wait.
Had an emergency anyway?
Shut off the water and call 908-873-6686. See our emergency plumbing page for what happens next.
Get tips and reminders
New guides and seasonal reminders. A few emails a year.
Stop and call us if
- Your main shut-off valve won't turn, or it drips from the stem when you turn it.
- A shut-off valve under a sink or toilet won't close all the way.
- Your water meter shows water moving when everything in the house is off.
- Your water heater is leaking or has rust around the base.
Call 908-873-6686.
Michael Holt
Owner and operator of Plumbing Doctor, NJ Master Plumber (Lic. #36BI01345600) and U.S. Marine Corps veteran.
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