If you have a floor above you, go outside and open an outside faucet if those faucets come directly from the house. Now the water will run outside and not into your cabinet or floor. If you’re replacing a valve on a faucet, open it up. This will help get the water out of the pipes you’re working around.
If you’re checking for water leaks, wipe the valve completely dry with a towel. Then, turn on the faucet or appliance and let it run for a few minutes. If you see new droplets of water forming on the valve, you have a leak. For a gas line, apply soapy water to all fittings and look for bubbles. [4] X Research source Tighten if needed, and re-check with soapy water. Instead of soapy water, you can use a commercial compound that will check for gas leaks. These are sold at hardware stores.