If you have a leak in your home, do you know how to stop the water and how to turn it off?  It’s always good to look at these things in a calm moment, rather than when we have water pouring through a ceiling.   

Its good to know who supplies your water and which company you would need to contact in the event of something going wrong. Using the link below you can add your post code and find this out.  

Find your supplier | Water UK 

How do I turn my water off? 

Your inside stop valve, also known as stopcock or stop tap, is the easiest way to turn your water on and off. As it’s in your home, it’s your responsibility to install, maintain, fix and replace.

The diagram below shows the typical pipework for most homes and who is responsible for maintaining it. 

How to find your inside stop valve

Your inside stop valve is inside your house and is normally located just after the water pipe enters the house. This is often under the kitchen sink, but can also be:

• In an airing cupboard
• Under the stairs
• Under the floorboards
• Near the front door
• In the garage, utility room, bathroom or cellar

For flats, you may have a communal inside stop valve if your water supply is shared with your neighbours. This is normally located where your water supply enters the building. Sometimes an additional inside stop valve can be found where the water supply enters your flat. If you can't find your inside stop valve or it's broken, there are other ways to turn your water off. You can find these at the bottom of this page.

How to use your inside stop valve

Using your inside stop valve should be easy and you should be able to operate the valve yourself.

How to turn your water off using the inside stop valve

Turn the valve clockwise.

It may take a few turns to stop the water. You'll usually get to a point where you can’t turn it anymore. You shouldn’t need to use excessive force to turn it further.

It may also take a few minutes for the water to stop running from your taps, as there will be some water left in the pipes from before you turned the water off.

Important: Pop a monthly reminder in your calendar to check your inside stop valve is working correctly. This way you’ll be confident you can turn off your water in an emergency.

How to turn your water on using the inside stop valve

Turn the valve anti-clockwise.

It may take a few turns to turn the water on. It may also take a few minutes for the water to start running from your taps, as it will need to run through the pipes again.