How to find and turn off your stopcock

The stopcock (also called a stop tap or stop valve) turns off the mains water to your whole home. If a pipe bursts or a joint starts pouring with water, turning it off quickly can save your floors, ceilings and belongings. It's worth finding yours today, while nothing is going wrong.

Where to look

The stopcock is usually where the water pipe comes into your home. The most common places are:

• under the kitchen sink
• in a cupboard under the stairs
• near the front door, sometimes under a floorboard
• in a garage or utility room
• in a downstairs toilet or airing cupboard in some flats

It looks like a small tap on the pipe, usually brass, sometimes with a red or blue handle.

There is also an outside stop tap, normally under a small metal or plastic cover in the pavement or front garden. That one belongs to your water company and needs a special key, so use the one inside your home.

How to turn it off

Turn the handle clockwise until it stops. Then run the cold tap in the kitchen to check the water has stopped and to drain what's left in the pipes.

If you have a leak from a hot water pipe or tank, turning off the mains will slow it down but may not stop it straight away. Switch off your boiler or immersion heater too.

What if it won't turn?

Stopcocks that haven't been touched for years often seize up. Don't force it with pliers or a wrench, as an old valve can snap and make things much worse. If yours is stiff, get it replaced before you need it in an emergency. A new stopcock or an extra isolation valve is a small job that gives you real peace of mind.

Keep it working

• Turn it off and on again once or twice a year so it doesn't seize.
• Keep the cupboard clear so you can reach it quickly.
• Make sure everyone in the house knows where it is.