What should I include in a home water-damage emergency plan?
Short answer: Include the main water shutoff location with a labeled valve, individual fixture shutoff locations, the electrical panel location with labeled breakers, phone numbers for a plumber, a restoration company, and your insurance agent, your policy number and deductible, a documentation reminder to photograph before moving anything, and a small supply kit with a wet/dry vacuum, towels, and a flashlight.
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- Anyone in the household should be able to shut the water off in under a minute.
- Label the main valve and the breakers for wet-risk areas.
- Keep the plan printed and posted, not only on a phone.
- Include the insurance policy number and deductible so nobody has to search.
- Practice once: walk the shutoff steps with everyone in the household.
The One-Page Plan
- Main water shutoff: location, photo, and direction to turn.
- Fixture shutoffs: under sinks, behind toilets, at the water heater, behind the washer.
- Gas shutoff and electrical panel location, with breakers labeled by room.
- Sump pump location, backup status, and alarm behavior.
- Phone numbers: plumber, restoration company, insurance agent, utility.
- Insurance policy number, deductible, and claims phone number.
- Documentation reminder: photos and video before moving anything.
- Neighbor or local contact with a key, for when you travel.
The Supply Kit
- Wet/dry vacuum with a clean filter.
- Several old towels and a squeegee.
- A flashlight and a headlamp.
- A pinless moisture meter.
- Plastic sheeting and painter's tape.
- Furniture blocks or foil to lift furniture legs.
- A valve wrench for a stiff main shutoff.
Annual Review
- Exercise the main shutoff to confirm it turns and seals.
- Test the sump pump and its backup.
- Update phone numbers and policy information.
- Replace aging supply hoses and check the water heater's age.
- Walk the plan with everyone in the household, including teenagers.
Colorado and Denver Considerations
For Denver metro homes, add two local items: the fall irrigation blowout date and a winter travel checklist that includes the 55 degree thermostat minimum and who will check the house during cold snaps.
Exceptions and Important Considerations
- Renters should include the landlord or property manager contact and the notification requirement in their lease.
- Condo owners should include HOA emergency contacts and the building shutoff arrangement.
- Homes with fire sprinklers should note that the sprinkler supply is not to be shut off casually.
Related Questions
Inside a utility closet door or on the panel cover, plus a photo saved to everyone's phone.
The main shutoff location, labeled, and everyone knowing how to operate it.
Yes. The value is that anyone home alone can act in the first minute.
Yes. Choosing under pressure at 2 a.m. is how people end up with the wrong crew.
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