Your stopcock is the main water valve that controls the water flow in your home. While water needs to flow freely through your home, your stopcock allows you to shut off the water in an emergency.
If you notice your stopcock leaks, you need to resolve this ASAP. Calling a plumber is the best way to stop a leaking stopcock. They will know exactly how to access it, especially in hard-to-reach areas, and have the right tools for the job.
Fixing A Leaking Stopcock
A stopcock comprises three parts; compression nuts which join the pipe to the tap on each side, a gland nut which sits directly below the tap and a head gear joint which is the middle section and has the mechanism that controls the stopcock.
To fix a leaking stopcock, you need to identify which part of the stopcock is leaking. You will need a spanner and water pump pliers as a minimum. Then turn off the water by your external stopcock and drain the taps to avoid flooding.
If the leak is coming from the compression nuts, try tightening the nuts with the spanner to see if this works; if not, it may need packing with PTFE tape.
It is a little bit more complex to fix a leaking nut.
- Use your spanner and water pump pliers to loosen the large nut in the centre of the stopcock
- Unscrew and remove the stopcock and spindle
- Remove the old washer and add a new one
- Next, wrap PTFE tape around the bottom of the spindle
- Replace the spindle and tighten the nut
Replacing the head gear joint is slightly more complex. To avoid any excessive damage, you should contact a qualified plumber who can quickly identify the source of the leak and rectify it quickly.
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