How Do I Turn off My Main Water Supply?
To turn off your main water supply, the first thing you need to do is locate the internal or external stop cock. Once you have located either you can turn off the water supply into your property.
If you have an external water leak then you will need to turn off the water supply at the boundary, if the leak is inside your home then the internal stock cock can be used.
How Do I Find The Mains Water Shut Off Valve In The Street?
Typically it will be outside the boundary of your property. Look for an 8-inch iron or plastic cover which should have an M or a WM on it. Use a flathead screwdriver to lift the cover-up. Some of these will then have a frost cover which you need to remove to expose the stop cock.
Turn the stop cock clockwise to turn the water off and anti-clockwise to turn the water back on. This will be required for any water leak detection and repair processes.
Look Inside Your Property
If you are unable to locate the external water main supply valve or cannot turn it off, the next part of the process is to look inside your property to find the internal stopcock. While this will not resolve the water mains supply pipe issue, it will stop any more water coming into your property.
An internal stopcock is usually located on the ground floor, on the inside a perimeter wall and possibly inside a cupboard or under the kitchen sink. The internal stopcock is normally a brass tap or a gate valve with a coloured handle.
Check Your Home Buyers Report
Another important tip, particularly if you are preparing in case a leak ever occurs, is to check your home buyer’s report, as this may well help you to identify the location of the internal stopcock. It will also explain who is responsible for mains water leaks.
