Some things in life are worth learning before it's too late—like the locations of your water and gas shutoff valves. Now granted, these shutoff valves are often hidden in some dark, creepy ...

Causes: Worn out valves, seats and gaskets are common culprits. "Turning faucets on and off over the years wears these parts out," Hogan says. A faucet valve cartridge can also be to blame.