Check your stop tap as clocks spring forward

UK households are urged to check their stop tap as the clocks spring forward on Sunday 29 March – with a survey by WaterSafe revealing 14 per cent don’t know where theirs is. 

The internal stop tap is the first line of defence against plumbing emergencies. By turning off the mains water supply, households can help prevent property damage and costly repairs if a pipe leaks or bursts.  

A survey of 2,000 homeowners revealed 14 per cent of UK residents don’t know where their stop tap is. 

A separate survey of business owners found 14 per cent had used a plumber in the last year to fix a faulty stop tap.

Stop taps, also known as stop cocks or stop valves, are often found under the kitchen sink, or in downstairs bathrooms, kitchen cupboards, garages, cellars and under the stairs.  

WaterSafe advises people to make sure they can operate their property’s stop tap every six months by gently turning it off and back on again.

Jonathan Samuel, Managing Director of WaterSafe, explains, “Testing your stop tap is something we should all do regularly, around every six months.  It’s easy to forget when you last did it, so the clocks changing can serve as a handy reminder.”

“We’re urging households to check their stop taps on Sunday 29 March when many of us will be changing clocks around our home – and to test them again when we turn the clocks back an hour in the autumn.”

“Doing this regularly will provide reassurance that you could turn your water supply off in an emergency.”

Lever-type valves should be left fully open, while screw-down stop taps should be turned back half a turn after fully opening, to prevent seizing.

If the stop tap is difficult to turn or doesn’t move at all, contact a WaterSafe-registered plumber for advice. 

There are almost 8,000 WaterSafe-registered plumbers and drinking water contractors listed at www.watersafe.org.uk