Match what you notice
- The handle will not turn
- Turn a traditional stop tap slowly by hand. If it resists, stop. Using a tool for extra leverage can damage the valve or pipework. Tell us where it is and whether you can reach it easily.
- Water beads just below the handle
- If the first wet spot is around the stem under the handle, the seal there may be leaking. Tell us whether it drips all the time or only after the tap has been moved.
- Water appears where the pipe meets the valve
- A pipe joint can leak separately from the valve itself. If it is safe to look, note which side becomes wet first. Leave the nuts and the valve body in place until the water can be safely isolated.
- The handle turns but water keeps flowing
- After you close the internal stop tap, water already in the pipe can run briefly. Check whether a cold tap you know is fed directly from the mains slows and stops. If the flow continues, tell us which outlet you checked. The valve may be passing water or may control a different branch.
Where to look for the internal stop tap
Start under the kitchen sink. It may also be in an airing cupboard or near where the supply enters the property. Some valves have a quarter-turn lever. In a flat or shared building, ask the building manager which valve serves your home.
When you need to isolate the supply outside
A leak at the stop tap itself or on the pipe before it may need isolation further upstream. Contact your water supplier if the outside valve is missing, inaccessible or shared, or if you are unsure who can operate it. In a shared building, contact the building manager as well.
What AquaFix can check
We can check which valve serves your home, where the water is escaping and whether safe isolation is available. With suitable access and the supply isolated, we can discuss replacing an accessible internal stop tap and check the connections when the water is restored.
Read the first checks for a water leak at home