Before tackling using a stopcock, you need to identify what tool or material it is. The stopcocks are a form of valve used for controlling the flow of a gas or liquid. The term is not supplied and precise to many various valve types. When confused, you may read on to become the stopcock smart.
The stopcock is the control tap for mains water. If unfortunate enough to have a broken tap or burst pipe, you need to find a stopcock. If it doesn’t, the home can be badly damaged before the plumber arrives. Most homes have these two categories of stopcocks, namely:
- Internal stopcock. The internal stopcock shuts off all the water in the property, which means repairs are made to pipes or disasters are averted.
- External stopcock. These external valves will control the flow from the water main, which serves your street to the house’s supply pipe. If the supply pipe ruptures or leaks, the external valve or stopcock needs to shut off, allowing for repairs and stopping masses of water that soaked the floor.
Now, you learned what a stopcock is, and the next step is finding it.
What does Stopcock look like?
A stopcock is like a tap without an outlet spout. It is between two lengths of pipe that acts as a connector. It allows the stopcock to block the water flow when closed off.
Where to find a stopcock?
It is very well known what a stopcock is. But, if you can’t find it, it is not much use to you. Asking a plumber while ankles soaked from the burst pipe in the home is not ideal. You can know where it is to shut off the water quickly and limit the damage before the professional with a proper look at the problem.
The external water main stopcock is on the street, outside the property’s boundary. But, some properties have the main stopcock in the boundaries, in the back or front garden areas. It is marked clearly by the metal cover with the word water stopcock or simple “W” stamped on the surface. An internal stopcock is a lot harder to trace, especially in the older properties.
Some people find the stopcock in some truly bizarre places as getting moved or built around when the houses are renovated or remodeled. Here is a list of common places to find a water stopcock:
- By the gas meter
- Cupboard under the stairs
- In a cellar
- In the bathroom
- In a utility room
- In a cupboard
- Under the kitchen sink
In a cupboard, the stopcock is common for flats. These are sometimes in communal corridors with a stopcock for the other flats. In old properties, it is located under the floorboards closer to the front door. Once you find it, ensure to test if it is working.