Salt lake plumbing pros tells how to shut off the water.

Most homes built in the last 40 years have a separate stop valve, or shut off valve for each faucet, toilet and fixture. A supply tube runs from the stop valve to the fixture, (a faucet has two stop valves, one for hot and one for cold; a toilet needs only a cold water shutoff.) If a fixture does not have a stop valve, you will have to shut off the water to part or all of the house. It’s a good idea to install a stop valve so you can shut off the water in case of a emergency.

A stop valve typically has a chrome finish and an oval handle. In a older home, it may be shaped like a house valve with a circular handle, or it may have a decorative ceramic handle.

Most stop valves are inexpensive and made for light duty because they will be used only for emergencies or repairs. that means they might not shut off the water completely. Do not crank down on its handle with pliers or other tools; you may break the valve. If you can not completely shut off the water at the stop valve, shut the water off to the entire house.