Maybe you're making repairs or maybe there's an emergency and you need to shut the water off fast.  

Knowing where your water shut off valve is something all homeowners should know.  

Your master shutoff valve is typically located where the water line comes in to the foundation, usually in a basement or crawlspace.  

The master shutoff valve shuts off water to the entire house, while a supply shutoff valve is specific to appliances and fixtures. 

The master shutoff valve will usually have a wheel (i.e. gate valve) or a straight handle (i.e. ball valve).  Gate valves operate by turning the wheel clockwise until the water is off.  

Ball valves operate by turning the handle a quarter turn clockwise until the water is off.  Be sure to check that the water is off before proceeding with any repairs.

To turn the water back on, do the same process in reverse.  For a gate valve, turn counterclockwise, or a ball valve, a quarter turn counterclockwise.

Turn the valve slowly as opening the valve too quickly can damage the pipes.