Gate valves are for low-pressure systems, primarily used for isolation purposes so that maintenance can be carried out. The mains stopcock comes from a name given to the stopcock to stop water many years ago, but in recent history of plumbing, the stopcock has also been known as the stop tap, mains water shut off valve or the stop valve so that the name has a better sound to it. In the past it has been unclear as to who is responsible between the homeowner/landlords and the Utility Company for which of the piping and associated taps within each boundary. Imagine running into the garden, in the dark, wearing your nightie, trying to find and open it while water pours through your ceilings. For flats, you may have a communal inside stop valve if your water supply is shared with your neighbours.

Filing paperwork, sorting out the linen cupboard and in all likelihood, testing your stop tap is on that list too. This process creates an ice plug that lasts for around 30 minutes, allowing you to extend or repair pipework without draining the whole system. Our builder isn't sure this is permitted as you're not allowed to cover with paving even though it will have an access key, but Thames Water say that provided it's accessible then it's fine (although they won't put this in writing). Certain sizes are marked ‘Monitoring Well’ for clear identification and to avoid any unauthorised access. The fitting then fits around the stop tap valve and allows you to turn the key until the water flow stops.In addition to this, not every policy covers the repair of the burst pipe itself and/or the trace and find portion of the work. Once the water is safely off, you will be able to carry out any work that needs done, from attempting to fix a leaking pipe to unblocking a drain. If the mains water stop valve is leaking from the main body then this becomes a little more tricky and you will require an emergency plumber. As there are two types of stopcock and most properties have more than one, there will be more than one location where yours may be found on your property.

This tap if it's the first one on the property then the tap , cover etc would owned by the water company not the property owner.The external valve controls the flow from the water main that serves your street to the supply pipe into your house. If the mains water stopcock is leaking from the nuts then you can either use PTFE or plumbing paste. Below are some of the most common questions asked when discussing stopcocks, which we have provided answers for: Is a Stopcock a Legal Requirement? It may also take a few minutes for the water to stop running from your taps, as there'll be some water left in the pipes from before you turned the water off. As well as the options provided below, you can choose to restrict or block cookies through your browser settings at any time.