Burst pipe! Could you stop the water in time?

The questions

1. Question 1 of 6In a typical UK house, where do Barratt Homes say the main stopcock usually is?

   • In the loft
   • Under the kitchen sink
   • Behind the fridge
   • In the bathroom cabinet

   Show answer

   Answer: Under the kitchen sink

   Barratt Homes name under the kitchen sink, the downstairs toilet or the utility-room sink. Outside, there is often a stop valve under a cover in the path or pavement, by the water meter (Thames Water).

   Source: Barratt Homes: How to isolate your water supply; Thames Water: How to find and use your outside stop valve

   How to find and turn off your main water valve

2. Question 2 of 6Which way do you turn a round stopcock handle to shut off the water?

   

   • Anticlockwise
   • Clockwise, like closing a tap
   • Pull it out
   • Push it in

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   Answer: Clockwise, like closing a tap

   Turn it clockwise until you feel resistance, like closing a tap (Barratt Homes). It may take several turns. Thames Water says not to force it past the point where it stops.

   Source: Barratt Homes: How to isolate your water supply; Thames Water: How to find and use your outside stop valve

   How to find and turn off your main water valve

3. Question 3 of 6The lever on this valve now sits across the pipe. Is the water on or off?

   

   • On: across means open
   • Off: across means closed
   • Half on
   • You can't tell from the lever

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   Answer: Off: across means closed

   A lever valve is open when it lines up with the pipe and closed when it sits across it. It only needs a quarter turn (City of Bellevue, Barratt Homes).

   Source: City of Bellevue Utilities: Prevent frozen pipes and if one breaks; Barratt Homes: How to isolate your water supply

   How to find and turn off your main water valve

4. Question 4 of 6You closed the valve. How do you check it worked?

   • Flush the toilet five times
   • Open a cold tap: after a few minutes the water should stop
   • Listen to the boiler
   • Read the meter next month

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   Answer: Open a cold tap: after a few minutes the water should stop

   Open a cold tap. Water left in the pipes can run for a few minutes, then it should stop (Thames Water).

   Source: Thames Water: How to find and use your outside stop valve

   How to find and turn off your main water valve

5. Question 5 of 6The old stopcock handle won't budge. What now?

   • Hit it with a hammer
   • Stop: forcing an old valve can break it. Call a plumber or your water company
   • Pour oil on it and keep twisting
   • Use the outside valve every time instead

   Show answer

   Answer: Stop: forcing an old valve can break it. Call a plumber or your water company

   Thames Water says to stop, because forcing an old valve can break it, and to call a plumber or your water company. The outside stop valve is for emergencies only.

   Source: Thames Water: How to find and use your outside stop valve; Barratt Homes: How to isolate your water supply

   How to find and turn off your main water valve

6. Question 6 of 6You rent a flat in Germany. Where is your own shut-off usually?

   • On the roof
   • Next to your flat's water meters, one valve for cold and one for hot
   • In the neighbour's flat
   • There is never one

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   Answer: Next to your flat's water meters, one valve for cold and one for hot

   GIGA says German flats usually have valves next to their own water meters. The building's main valve (Haupthahn) in the basement is usually out of tenants' reach, so call the landlord or Hausverwaltung if you have none.

   Source: GIGA: Wasserrohrbruch, das solltet ihr sofort tun

   How to find and turn off your main water valve