Do you know how to turn off your water supply quickly?

Please note, we can only give you basic advice on this page to do the job yourself. Make sure you use the right tools and protective equipment to avoid hurting yourself or damaging your home. Always consult a professional for more complex repairs.

If your plumbing freezes or springs a leak, you'll need to shut off your water supply in order to make repairs. You'll also need to do this when replacing fixtures, changing pipes or performing any general maintenance. Follow this simple guide to turning off your water:

• Step 1: you may be able to shut off the water to individual areas (and in this case, you won't have to turn off your water at the mains). Look for a shut off valve close to the damaged pipe/area you want to shut down water to. These are usually hidden behind or under fixtures.

• Step 2: if you find you can't shut off the water to a particular area, you'll need to locate your stopcock. This is usually found under your kitchen sink but if you're having trouble finding it, trace the pipes back from your tap until you find a valve on the main water supply.

• Step 3: turn the stopcock clockwise to turn the water supply off.

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