While every house should have a stopcock inside, it isn't guaranteed that you'll have one outside as well, especially if your property is old.
Inside stop taps are normally under the kitchen sink or in the downstairs loo. You may find it in a garage or a utility room. If you can't find it, check with your neighbours – they're normally in the same place if your properties are similar. Your stop tap may be next to your meter, if this is fitted inside.
It is now a legal requirement for every home to have at least one stopcock. Most properties will have one, situated somewhere close to the water input from the main supply.
Not all properties will have an outside stop valve fitted and this is quite common in older homes, or if the incoming water supply serves both your home and one or more of your neighbours. If you're unable to find your external stop tap you should contact your local water supplier.
Every home was required to have a main water shut-off valve installed inside the home when it was built. For most emergencies or repairs, shutting off the proper inside valve is all you will need to do. However, there are also underground shut-off valves installed outside at the property line.
If you do not have a shut-off valve (many apartments, manufactured homes, and older homes do not), call your water provider to turn off your water at the street. Then, turn on all of your faucets and flush your toilet(s) to drain the rest of the water from your pipes. This will reduce the pressure from the burst pipe.
If your home is built on a slab, check in the garage or near the water heater for the shut-off valve. Next, check outside your house. If the water main shut-off valve is located outside, it will be buried underground near the street. Look for a round or rectangular metal cover flush with the grass or sidewalk.
Stopcocks are usually found in your kitchen, below the sink unit. However, in some houses the stopcock is found in a front or back hall or in a larder unit beside the sink unit. It is important that you know where the stopcock is and that you check that your stopcock is working.
Your outside stop valve is also known as your stopcock or stop tap. It controls the cold-water supply going into your home. You should only use your outside stop valve in an emergency, for example if you have a leak on the supply pipe between the inside and outside stop valves.
In most cases, the master shutoff valve to the home will have a wheel (gate valve) or a straight handle (ball valve). Gate valves (pictured to the right) are operated by turning the wheel clockwise until the water is off. Ball valves are operated by turning the handle a quarter-turn clockwise until the water is off.
Most of the time, homeowners are responsible for replacing a main water shut-off valve. This is because the property owner also owns the water service line from the shut-off valve near their property line to their house. That means they must maintain, repair, or replace it when needed.
Find your inside stop valve
Inside stop valves can look different but they all have the same purpose. In homes, they are usually located under the kitchen sink. Other places they might be found are: Inside a hot press / airing cupboard on the ground floor of your home.
Your inside stop tap controls the water supply inside your property and your outside stop tap controls the water supply from the water main. If you need to shut off your water supply, follow our advice to find and turn off the correct stop tap.
You can move it, or you can fit a sure stop device! It's box that has switch on it, which you fit in kitchen unit and you can turn the water off from that. They both would cost roughly the same amount to fit. yes it can be moved,a good qualified plumber can do this.
Your internal stop tap is usually located underneath your kitchen sink. However, there are a few other places where you may find it. These include: Kitchen cupboard.
Waterstops are required at various junctions throughout a dwelling including bathrooms, WC's, powder rooms, ensuites and laundries. They are required at wet area doorways, around the perimeter of baths which are installed on a hob, and around the perimeter of showers.
In a home the inside stop tap is usually located under the kitchen sink, but can also be in an airing cupboard or under the floorboards near the front door. You should be able to operate the valve yourself. Turning the valve clockwise will close it, reducing the amount of water passing through.
The main shutoff should be next to the meter. With a house this old the valve may not look like a modern valve. Beyond that your only other option if you can't find it is to trace the piping back to where it enters the house. You should encounter the shutoff somewhere along the way.
The average cost of replacing a water shut-off valve can range from $150 to $400, depending on various factors such as materials, labor, and the complexity of the job.
Remember to shut off the main water supply to your home any time you're planning to be away for more than 24 hours. Yes, that includes weekend breaks. It's the best way to avoid serious water damage in the event of a plumbing failure.
Every house has at least one main water shut-off valve. Look for where the plumbing enters the home to find yours. There are a couple of main spots to check inside first before heading outside to look. You can save yourself some time by checking your property inspection report if you know where that is.
Most main water shutoff valves are located inside the home. The most common locations are the basement, the crawlspace, the mechanical room, an exterior wall, or the yard.
The water main shut-off valve will look like a slightly large pipe with some sort of handle stuck in the middle of it. It's not a massive pipe or valve, so it can easily blend in with the rest of your fixtures.