Every home has a stopcock, the valve that shuts off your water supply. Since most people only look for theirs in a crisis, that is exactly the wrong time to be searching. It is far better to know where it sits before you need it.
Most homes have an internal stopcock under the kitchen sink, although older properties in Stockport sometimes hide it in a cupboard, under the stairs, or near the front door. There's often an external one too, usually under a small metal cover near the boundary of your property.
Since a burst pipe can flood a room in minutes, knowing your stopcock in advance can save real damage. Turn it clockwise to shut the water off. Then request an emergency plumber callout.
If your stopcock is stiff or won't turn, don't force it. A seized stopcock is a common problem in older homes, especially the Victorian terraces around Cheadle and Bramhall. Our drain repair team can free or replace one before it becomes an emergency.
Take a minute this weekend to find yours and check it turns freely. Homeowners in Marple and further out often find theirs hard to reach, so it's worth locating now rather than during a flood.
Once you find it, label the spot and tell everyone in the house where it is. That way, anyone can shut off the water in an emergency while you wait for help.
Get in touch if your stopcock needs attention. We cover Stockport town centre, Reddish, and anywhere else across all the areas we cover.
