If you discover a water leak in your home, the first few minutes are critical. The top priority is to avoid panic and focus on getting the source of the water stopped. The most common water leaks in a home or apartment can be traced to the kitchen or a bathroom.
All common water supplies in a home have a cut-off valve nearby and all valves can be turned off with a clockwise turn. If the source of the leak is your washing machine, the valves to turn off the flow are located behind the machine. Do not disconnect the hoses. Instead, turn off the water flow where the hoses are connected in the wall.