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WaterSafe urges homeowners to take stop tap action

Phil Wilkinson-Jones

WaterSafe, the UK register of approved plumbers, is urging homeowners to stop, find, check and label their internal stop tap.

 

The internal stop tap will shut off the water supply quickly if pipes burst during a sudden freeze or thaw, which can cause thousands of pounds worth of damage to homes and their contents.

 

Data from the Association of British Insurers shows that during a spell of freezing weather, a claim to repair a burst pipe costs an average of £8,800 – and can often be more.

 

Repair costs can be significantly reduced if the stop tap is used to turn off the water as quickly as possible. Knowing where your stop tap is and checking it regularly to make sure it is working is essential.

 

The internal stop tap, sometimes also known as a stopcock or stop valve, should be turned clockwise to turn off the water supply. Common places to find it include:

 

‘The misery of flooding’

 

Property owners are responsible for the internal stop tap. If you can’t locate it or it’s not working, contact an approved plumber for help at watersafe.org.uk.

 

Julie Spinks, Director of WaterSafe, said: “This year we are focussing our winter messaging on one critical piece of advice for households which is take the time to locate the internal stop tap and, importantly, to check that it’s working, in case of a plumbing emergency this winter.

 

“It’s a good idea to label your stop tap once you’ve located it – and to add the number of a WaterSafe approved plumber in case you need it in a hurry, because the consequences of not doing so and potentially facing the misery of flooding do not bear thinking about.”

 

Always protect pipes in unheated areas against winter temperatures with insulating lagging to help prevent them from freezing and bursting. Visit watersafe.org.uk/winter for further information and ‘how-to’ videos on protecting homes in winter weather.

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