Your internal stop tap (stopcock) shuts off the cold water supply to your whole home. In a burst-pipe emergency, turning it off quickly is the single best thing you can do to limit damage.
It’s most often under the kitchen sink, but can also be in a downstairs bathroom, utility room, or near the front door. Turn it clockwise to close.
Test it twice a year, they can seize up if never used. If yours is stiff, stuck or leaking, it’s a quick, cheap job for us to replace before you ever need it in anger.
It’s also worth knowing where your external stopcock is, usually under a small metal cover near the boundary of your property.
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