In case of emergency, you should always know where your utility shutoffs are located – and what to do once you’ve found them.
Water
If you’re working with the pipes, you’re probably going to want to make use of this shutoff or else you’ll have a mess on your hands. This type of shutoff may be found either inside or outside the house, and it’s usually near the point where the pipe enters the house. Each sink or appliance may also have its own individual shutoff, wherever it connects to the water (normally behind the feeder pipe beneath the sink, or behind the appliances). Most valve handles turn clockwise to shut off.
Electric
Near where the main power line enters your house, there’ll be a metal box on the wall. It holds the main shutoff that will disconnect the power from the entire house all at once. Normally it will be located inside, but sometimes it can be outside. When you open it, you’ll see rows of either fuses or circuit breakers; these act as safety devices to prevent the circuits from shorting and igniting. Before you do any electrical repairs, you have to switch off the right circuit breaker or remove the right fuse for that particular area of the house, or just switch off the electricity altogether.
Gas
The gas shutoff valve is always located on the pipe that feeds the gas into the house; the pipe is located next to the gas meter. You have to use a wrench to turn off the gas. If the gas is on, the slot in the top of the valve will be in a vertical position; use your wrench to turn the valve until the slot is parallel to the ground.