4) You will need to have on hand water leak tape, small gas torch, solder, flux, plumbing sandpaper, pipe cutter, gas tape (to seal gas line) and maybe some pipe glue. Ask the sales person at the hardware store for a more defined list.
When you get to the house stand if front of the toilet and locate the water shut off valve. Should be down below the toilet on the wall. Just turn it off (righty-tighty) completely and flush the toilet. All the water should have left the tank, well at least most of it. If there is remaining water line repair get it out with paper towels or a rag. The important thing is that no more water came in. If it did then your valve is not shut all the way or not working and you need additional help.
Unfortunately, people will band together to gain support on something regardless of whether or not it is true. In this case, one person shared their thoughts on how ineffective the letters are and yet, they had nothing but their opinion to support this. They found a group of willing listeners who quickly became active supporters of the belief.
The location of a plumbing contractor is a key factor. This is because he or she will not only charge you an hourly rate, but travel costs will also be charged. This can add a significant amount to the final bill if the contractor has to travel from the other side of town.
Here are some general cautions. Do not begin jobs on holidays, weekends, or at times when plumbers raise their rates or are difficult to reach. Do start early leaving plenty of daylight to call a plumber if something goes wrong. Study the situation carefully. Think about what might happen if something suddenly broke and what the effects would be. Old corroded copper tubing might break in the wall when you are wrenching an angle stop that supplies the water line repair to your toilet. A flood in the wall could be costly. If the angle stop, on the other hand, is new and shuts off easily and you have another toilet in the house then it might make sense to repair the toilet yourself. Be honest, too. Are you handy with tools? Did you do well in shop classes in school?
Turn the water off at the main shutoff valve at the street. You should be able to take a pair of pliers(or your bare hands) and turn the valve at the water meter to shut off the water to your home. Once you have shut off the water you can cut the pipe around the leak and make the repair.
Find out if the plumber works on a 24 hour basis and, if so, what are the extra charges involved. More important than the costs however are the person's trustworthiness and reputation. After all, he or she will be in your home and around your possessions. You should feel comfortable with their presence and confident that they are honest.