Where Is My Stopcock? How to Turn Off Your Water

In most UK homes the internal stopcock is under the kitchen sink. If it’s not there, check near the front door, under the stairs, in a downstairs toilet or utility room, or in the garage or cellar.

To turn the water off, turn the stopcock clockwise. Knowing where it is before you need it can save a lot of damage when a pipe leaks.

Where to look

The stopcock sits where the mains water pipe comes into the house. That’s often, but not always, the kitchen. Look for a brass or chrome tap with a small handle on a pipe coming up through the floor or out of an outside wall. Common places:

under the kitchen sink
in an airing cupboard or near the hot water cylinder
under the stairs or near the front door
in a downstairs toilet, utility room or garage
in the cellar, in older terraced houses
behind a panel near the water meter, in flats

In a flat, the stopcock may be inside your flat, in a communal cupboard or corridor, or shared with other flats. Find out from your landlord or building manager now, not during a leak.

How to turn it off

Turn the stopcock clockwise (to the right) until it stops. Don’t force it.
Open the cold taps to drain what’s left in the pipes. The kitchen cold tap is usually fed straight from the mains, so it should stop running quickly.
If the leak is from the hot water or heating, turn off the boiler as well, and the immersion heater if you have one.
If water is near electrics (lights, sockets or the consumer unit), keep away from it and switch off the electricity at the consumer unit only if you can reach it safely without standing in water.

Once it’s off, test it by running a cold tap. If water keeps flowing strongly, the stopcock isn’t shutting off completely.

If the stopcock won’t turn

Stopcocks that haven’t been touched for years often seize up. If yours is stiff:

try gently turning it back and forth a little at a time
use a cloth for grip, but avoid forcing it with large tools, because you can snap the spindle or damage the pipe
if it still won’t move, use the outside stop tap (see below)

Once the emergency is over, get a plumber to replace a stopcock that’s seized or doesn’t close fully. It’s a common, quick job.

The outside stop tap

Most properties also have an external stop tap, usually under a small metal or plastic cover in the pavement or front garden near the boundary. This usually belongs to the water company. It often needs a special long key, and it may be shared with neighbours. In the North West, the water supplier for most homes is United Utilities. If you can’t turn your water off inside, contact them for help.

Who is responsible for which pipe?

In general:

The water company is responsible for the main in the street and the pipe up to the property boundary or outside stop tap.
The homeowner is usually responsible for the supply pipe from the boundary into the house, and for all internal plumbing.
Landlords are responsible for the plumbing in rented homes, so tenants should report leaks straight away.

What to do while you wait for a plumber

Catch drips with buckets and move valuables away.
If water is coming through a ceiling, it may be pooling above. Don’t stand directly underneath a bulging ceiling.
Take photos for your insurer.
Switch off the boiler if the leak involves heating or hot water pipes. Many combis will lock out anyway when the pressure drops.
Note where the water is coming from. This helps the plumber find the leak faster.

Five minutes to prepare now

Find your stopcock and check it turns. Don’t force it if it’s stiff, and get it replaced instead.
Tie a tag to it so others in the house can find it.
Keep the area in front of it clear.
Find out where your outside stop tap is.
Save a plumber’s number in your phone.

FAQs

Which way do I turn a stopcock to turn it off?

Clockwise. The rule is “righty-tighty, lefty-loosey”.

Can I replace a stopcock myself?

It means cutting into the mains supply pipe. That’s a job for a competent plumber, especially if the outside stop tap has to be used to isolate the supply.

My stopcock is leaking itself. What should I do?

Tightening the gland nut just below the handle a little can sometimes stop a drip from the spindle. If it’s leaking from the joints, or it’s old and seized, get it replaced.