Where's my stopcock, and how do I turn it off?
The one thing every homeowner should know before a pipe bursts.
If a pipe bursts, the first thing to do is turn off the water. That means knowing where your stopcock is before you need it.
Where to look
- Under the kitchen sink: the most common place.
- Near the front door, under the stairs, or in a downstairs toilet.
- In a garage or utility room in newer homes.
There’s usually a second one outside, under a small cover near the boundary, but that one belongs to the water company.
How to turn it off
Turn it clockwise until it stops. If it’s stiff, don’t force it with a wrench, as old ones can snap. Give us a call instead and we’ll swap it for a new one that turns easily.
Once it’s off, run the cold kitchen tap to drain what’s left in the pipes.