Role 1: Valve and source
This person goes straight to the main shutoff, before anything else.
- Close the main water valve
- If it will not close, contact the water provider about a curb stop shutoff
- Open the lowest faucet in the house to drain pressure
- Turn off the water heater's fuel or power if the tank is draining
- Confirm with the others that the water has stopped
Role 2: Safety and people
This person keeps everyone out of danger while the water is being stopped.
- Keep children and anyone unsteady away from wet floors and stairs
- Clear people out of rooms with sagging or dripping ceilings
- Switch off breakers for wet areas only if the panel is dry and reachable
- Check for gas odor near the furnace and water heater
- Call 911 if anyone is hurt or a ceiling has fallen
Role 3: Record and contact sheet
| Who to contact | Why | Where to find the number |
|---|---|---|
| Water provider | Curb stop shutoff if the inside valve fails | Water bill or provider website |
| Licensed plumber | Repair the failed pipe | Saved contact you have checked in advance |
| Insurance claims line | Report the loss promptly | Policy declarations page or insurer app |
| HOA or property manager | Shared lines, building main, other units | Association or lease documents |
| Electric and gas utilities | Wet panel or gas odor | Utility bill |
| Water mitigation company | Extraction and drying | A company you have vetted with hiring questions |
If you are alone
Do the jobs in the same order: water off, safety, then records and calls. Do not stop to photograph before closing the valve. Once the flow stops, a two-minute video does more for a claim than an hour of mopping.
Afterward, move valuables and electronics to a dry level, lift furniture off wet carpet, and start a written log with times. Keep the log going through repairs and drying.
If you live alone or travel often, share this worksheet with a neighbor who has a key. The household where someone can reach the valve within minutes tends to come through a burst pipe with much less damage.
Common questions
Where should this worksheet live?
Tape a copy near the main shutoff and keep a photo of it on each adult's phone, so whoever is home can follow it.
General information for Denver, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.