The most common reason for turning off the water supply is to contain a leak and prevent damage to your property and/or belongings.
Leaks come in all forms and sizes. Some leaks are fairly easily noticed - pools of water on the floor, wet patches on walls and ceilings or running taps that you can’t fully close. Other leaks can be more subtle (such as slow plumbing leaks) and if left unattended they can lead to hefty water bills, so always keep an eye on your water usage. If you notice the amount being higher than expected, it’s worth having a quick look around your property to check for any low-key leaks that have gone unnoticed.
Useful tip: If you suspect you have a leak, but you’re not able to identify it, check your water meter. We recommend checking when your property will be empty for a few hours. Turn off all taps and take two pictures of your water meter a few hours apart. Changes in the readings when there hasn’t been any water usage can mean either a leak or a faulty water meter.
If you have a leak that needs to be contained ASAP until a contractor attends to fix the issue, you’ll need to use the stopcock to turn off your water supply. Follow the below steps to do this…
The information contained within this article was correct at the date of publishing and is not guaranteed to remain correct in the present day.