I feel this big time. Just moved into my first house a couple months back and had one of those "oh crap" moments already. Dishwasher decided to flood the kitchen floor at midnight—of course, right? I knew there was a valve somewhere but totally blanked on where exactly it was. Spent way too long fumbling around under the sink with water soaking my knees before finally finding the shut-off.
After that little adventure, I grabbed some bright labels from the hardware store and marked every single valve clearly. Feels kinda nerdy, but honestly it's worth it. Your idea about texting photos is pretty smart though...might have to steal that one.
Also good reminder about checking valves regularly—I haven't touched mine since labeling them, so I'll probably do a quick turn-test this weekend just to be safe. Last thing I need is another surprise swimming pool in my kitchen...
Good call labeling everything clearly—saves a ton of hassle later. I'd also suggest keeping a basic plumbing wrench handy near the main shut-off valve. Makes it way easier if things get stuck or stiff over time...speaking from experience here.
Labeling was a lifesaver for me too. Last winter, middle of the night, pipe burst under the kitchen sink...water spraying everywhere, total chaos. Thankfully I'd marked the shut-off clearly after a previous plumbing disaster (lesson learned the hard way). Good tip about keeping the wrench nearby—mine was buried in the garage, not helpful at 2 AM with freezing water soaking my slippers. Might just relocate mine now, honestly.
Good call on labeling, but honestly, if water's spraying everywhere at 2 AM, I'm not hunting for labels—I'm grabbing towels and buckets first, then figuring out the shut-off. Maybe keep a bucket handy too... slippers dry, floors happier.
Totally get the instinct to grab towels first, but honestly, knowing your main shut-off valve location beforehand can save you way more hassle. Buckets help temporarily...but stopping the flow quickly is key to preventing bigger headaches down the line.
