A stopcock is your home’s main tap. It controls whether water does or doesn’t flow into your home. On occasion, it may be necessary to locate your stopcock – if you have a leak, for example – and turn off that water supply as quickly as possible to prevent damage.
How Do I Find It?
It is well worth a few minutes of your time to locate your stopcock so you know where it is in case of any future emergencies. When there’s water gushing out of your pipes, you’ll need to act quickly to shut off the water supply.
The first place to check is under the kitchen sink. Many houses’ stopcocks are located here, according to house experts at Ideal Home. If it’s not to be found, the next place to try is in a utility room – in case the stopcock has been strategically placed near the boiler. For houses with stairs, the stopcock may be located in an under-stairs cupboard.
If you’ve not been able to locate the stopcock in any of these places indoors, it might be that you have an external stop valve. Have a look around the front boundary of your property – this may be on the driveway or pavement. You may have to lift a grid to locate it.
Check Your Stopcock
Test turning it off and back on to make sure it isn’t stuck or rusty. Turning it clockwise will close off the supply, while turning it back anti-clockwise will restore the water flow.
To further future-proof your plumbing system, it can be worthwhile investing in a CCTV drain survey. This clever technology uses small cameras to access hidden parts of your pipes and plumbing system to check for any wear and tear, blockages or cracks. To obtain a CCTV drain survey Nottingham or your nearest location, contact a specialist such as https://www.wilkinson-env.co.uk/drainage-services-cctv-surveys-midlands/cctv-drain-surveys/nottingham.
Lastly, it’s always a good idea to fix any minor problems with your plumbing, such as small cracks or leaks, before they turn into major issues.
