{"id":1649,"date":"2026-08-06T10:00:37","date_gmt":"2026-08-06T10:00:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.100percentplumbing.com\/?p=1649"},"modified":"2026-10-23T11:22:49","modified_gmt":"2026-10-23T11:22:49","slug":"what-is-a-stopcock-and-why-every-homeowner-should-know-where-it-is","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.100percentplumbing.com\/de\/what-is-a-stopcock-and-why-every-homeowner-should-know-where-it-is\/","title":{"rendered":"What is a stopcock and why every homeowner should know where it is"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>\n.ppb{\n  --pp-blue:#2BA6DE; --pp-blue-dk:#1E8FC4; --pp-navy:#1B3A8F; --pp-orange:#F5871F;\n  --pp-ink:#3A3A3A; --pp-body:#6E7377; --pp-muted:#9AA0A5; --pp-line:#E6E9EB;\n  --pp-wash:#F5F7F8; --pp-r:5px;\n}\n.ppb,.ppb *{box-sizing:border-box}\n.ppb{color:var(--pp-body);line-height:1.8}\n.ppb p{margin:0 0 1.2em}\n.ppb a{color:var(--pp-blue);font-weight:700}\n.ppb .ppb-toc a,.ppb .ppb-svc,.ppb .ppb-more,.ppb 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auto;color:var(--pp-blue);font-size:17px;line-height:1.35}\n.ppb-faq__item[open]>summary{background:var(--pp-blue);border-color:var(--pp-blue);color:#fff}\n.ppb-faq__item[open]>summary::before{content:\"\\2212\";color:#fff}\n.ppb-faq__a{padding:16px 16px 6px}\n.ppb-faq__a p{margin:0;font-size:15px;line-height:1.75}<\/p>\n<p>.ppb-trust{display:grid;grid-template-columns:1fr;gap:12px;margin:24px 0 28px}\n@media(min-width:680px){.ppb-trust{grid-template-columns:repeat(3,1fr)}}\n.ppb-trust__item{border:1px solid var(--pp-line);border-radius:var(--pp-r);padding:18px 20px}\n.ppb-trust__item b{display:block;color:var(--pp-ink);font-size:16px;margin-bottom:4px}\n.ppb-trust__item span{display:block;font-size:14px;line-height:1.6;color:var(--pp-body)}<\/p>\n<p>.ppb-svcs__grid{display:grid;grid-template-columns:1fr;gap:10px}\n@media(min-width:620px){.ppb-svcs__grid{grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr}}\n.ppb-svc{display:block;padding:16px 20px;border:1px solid var(--pp-line);border-radius:var(--pp-r);text-decoration:none;transition:border-color .18s ease,background .18s ease}\n.ppb-svc:hover{border-color:var(--pp-blue);background:var(--pp-wash)}\n.ppb-svc__t{display:block;font-size:16px;color:var(--pp-ink)}\n.ppb-svc:hover .ppb-svc__t{color:var(--pp-blue)}\n.ppb-svc__d{display:block;font-size:13px;color:var(--pp-muted);margin-top:1px}<\/p>\n<p>.ppb-areas__k{display:block;font-size:15px;color:var(--pp-muted);margin:0 0 8px}\n.ppb-areas p{margin:0;font-size:15px;line-height:1.9;color:var(--pp-ink)}<\/p>\n<p>.ppb-btn{display:inline-flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:9px;min-height:46px;padding:0 30px;border-radius:4px;font-size:15px;text-decoration:none!important;transition:background .18s ease,color .18s ease}\n.ppb-btn--solid:hover{background:#DB7614!important;color:#fff!important}\n.ppb-btn--line:hover{background:rgba(255,255,255,.15)!important;color:#fff!important}\n.ppb-close__btns{display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:10px}\n.ppb-close h2{font-size:clamp(23px,3.6vw,29px)!important;font-weight:300!important;color:#fff!important;margin:0 0 12px!important;line-height:1.4!important;text-align:left!important}\n.ppb-close__note{font-size:14px}<\/p>\n<p>@media(prefers-reduced-motion:reduce){.ppb *{transition:none!important}}\n@media print{.ppb-close,.ppb-areas,.ppb-svcs{display:none!important}}\n<\/style>\n<div class=\"ppb\">\n<div class=\"ppb-answer\" style=\"border-left:3px solid #2BA6DE;padding:2px 0 2px 20px;margin:0 0 30px\">\n<p>A stopcock is the main valve that controls all the water coming into your property. <strong>To shut the water off, turn it clockwise.<\/strong> Gently, by hand, and never with a wrench.<\/p>\n<p>It is also called a stop tap, and in Spain you will see it and hear it called the <b>llave de paso<\/b> \u2014 worth knowing when you have to explain over the phone which valve you mean.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<details class=\"ppb-toc\" open>\n<summary>In this article<\/summary>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"#what\">What is a stopcock?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#where\">Where is it usually located?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#how\">How to turn it off safely<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#stuck\">What if it is stuck or hard to turn?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#checklist\">The homeowner&#8217;s checklist<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#holiday\">Holiday homes and empty properties<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#plumber\">When should you call a plumber?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#faq\">Frequently asked questions<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/details>\n<div class=\"ppb-body\">\n<div class=\"ppb-sec\">\n<h2 id=\"what\">What is a stopcock?<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<p>It is the valve that turns off the water to the whole property. One valve, everything downstream of it.<\/p>\n<p>That makes it the single most useful thing in the building on the day a pipe fails \u2014 and the single most useless, if nobody knows where it is or it has seized shut over twenty years of never being touched. <b>Find it before you need it.<\/b> That is the entire point of this article.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"types\">Not every valve is the stopcock<\/h3>\n<p>There are usually several shut-off points in a property, and they do different jobs:<\/p>\n<div class=\"ppb-table\">\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th scope=\"col\">Type<\/th>\n<th scope=\"col\">What it does<\/th>\n<th scope=\"col\">Who normally uses it<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th scope=\"row\" data-label=\"Type\">Internal stopcock<\/th>\n<td data-label=\"What it does\">Turns off the water inside the property<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Who\">You, a plumber, a property manager<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th scope=\"row\" data-label=\"Type\">External stopcock<\/th>\n<td data-label=\"What it does\">Controls the supply before it enters the property<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Who\">The water supplier, or a plumber, depending on access<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th scope=\"row\" data-label=\"Type\">Appliance isolation valve<\/th>\n<td data-label=\"What it does\">Turns off water to one appliance or fixture<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Who\">You or a plumber<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th scope=\"row\" data-label=\"Type\">Toilet isolation valve<\/th>\n<td data-label=\"What it does\">Turns off water to one toilet<\/td>\n<td data-label=\"Who\">You or a plumber<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<p>The one you want in an emergency is the <b>internal stopcock<\/b>. The isolation valves are useful for a specific problem \u2014 a leaking toilet, a washing machine hose \u2014 because they let you stop that one thing without cutting water to the whole house.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ppb-sec\">\n<h2 id=\"where\">Where is it usually located?<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<p>It depends on the property, and on who built it. These are the usual places:<\/p>\n<div class=\"ppb-table\">\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th scope=\"col\">Area<\/th>\n<th scope=\"col\">Where to look<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th scope=\"row\" data-label=\"Area\">Kitchen<\/th>\n<td data-label=\"Where\">Under the sink, or in a nearby cupboard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th scope=\"row\" data-label=\"Area\">Utility room<\/th>\n<td data-label=\"Where\">Near the washing machine or the supply pipework<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th scope=\"row\" data-label=\"Area\">Bathroom<\/th>\n<td data-label=\"Where\">In a cupboard, a vanity unit or a service area<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th scope=\"row\" data-label=\"Area\">Garage<\/th>\n<td data-label=\"Where\">Near the wall where the water enters<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th scope=\"row\" data-label=\"Area\">Entrance<\/th>\n<td data-label=\"Where\">Near the front wall, the hallway, or a meter cupboard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th scope=\"row\" data-label=\"Area\">Outside<\/th>\n<td data-label=\"Where\">In a meter box or a service chamber<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th scope=\"row\" data-label=\"Area\">Apartment<\/th>\n<td data-label=\"Where\">A communal service area, a cupboard, or near the water meter<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<p>Older properties, renovated ones and apartments are the awkward cases. A renovation can leave the valve behind a new unit or inside a boxed-in section, and in a block there may be a valve inside the flat and another in a shared riser that do not do the same thing.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ppb-sec\">\n<h2 id=\"how\">How to turn it off safely<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<ol class=\"ppb-steps\">\n<li><b>Find the valve<\/b>The internal one, not an appliance isolation valve.<\/li>\n<li><b>Turn it clockwise<\/b>Gently, by hand. Clockwise closes, anticlockwise opens \u2014 the same as a tap.<\/li>\n<li><b>Do not force it<\/b>If it will not move easily, stop there. A seized valve forced with a wrench can break, and it tends to break open.<\/li>\n<li><b>Check the water actually stopped<\/b>Open a cold tap. If water keeps running after a few seconds, the valve turned but did not seal \u2014 which is a fault, even though it felt like it worked.<\/li>\n<li><b>Keep it accessible<\/b>Do not store things in front of it. The day you need it, you will need it quickly and probably in the dark.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<div class=\"ppb-note\">\n<p><b>Label it.<\/b> A small tag saying what it is costs nothing and means a guest, a tenant, a neighbour or a family member can find it without you. In a holiday rental this is the difference between a wet floor and a flooded apartment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ppb-sec\">\n<h2 id=\"stuck\">What if it is stuck or hard to turn?<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<p>Do not force it. That is the whole answer, and it is worth repeating because forcing it is the natural instinct.<\/p>\n<p>These are the signs that the valve needs attention rather than more effort:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>it will not turn, or only turns with real force;<\/li>\n<li>it leaks when you operate it;<\/li>\n<li>there is corrosion or staining around it or its connections;<\/li>\n<li>it turns but the water does not stop;<\/li>\n<li>you cannot reach it properly because of what has been built or stored around it.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>A valve in that state is not a working safety device \u2014 it is an untested one that happens to still be in the pipe. Replacing it on a planned visit is a short job; replacing it mid-leak is not.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"ppb-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.100percentplumbing.com\/who-can-replace-a-broken-stopcock-in-calpe\/\" style=\"display:block;background:#F5F7F8;border-radius:5px;padding:16px 20px;margin:24px 0 30px;text-decoration:none\"><br \/>\n  <span class=\"ppb-more__lbl\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#2BA6DE;color:#fff;font-size:12px;padding:2px 9px;border-radius:2px;margin-bottom:8px\">Read next<\/span><br \/>\n  <span class=\"ppb-more__txt\" style=\"display:block;font-size:16px;color:#3A3A3A;line-height:1.5\">Who can replace a broken stopcock in Calpe?<\/span><br \/>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"ppb-sec\">\n<h2 id=\"checklist\">The homeowner&#8217;s checklist<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ppb-table\">\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th scope=\"col\">Check<\/th>\n<th scope=\"col\">What to do<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th scope=\"row\" data-label=\"Check\">Find it<\/th>\n<td data-label=\"What to do\">Locate the internal stopcock before there is an emergency<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th scope=\"row\" data-label=\"Check\">Label it<\/th>\n<td data-label=\"What to do\">So family, tenants or guests can identify it without you<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th scope=\"row\" data-label=\"Check\">Test it gently<\/th>\n<td data-label=\"What to do\">Turn it carefully to confirm it still moves<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th scope=\"row\" data-label=\"Check\">Confirm it closes<\/th>\n<td data-label=\"What to do\">Open a cold tap and check the water actually stops<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th scope=\"row\" data-label=\"Check\">Keep access clear<\/th>\n<td data-label=\"What to do\">Do not block it with storage or appliances<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th scope=\"row\" data-label=\"Check\">Inspect for leaks<\/th>\n<td data-label=\"What to do\">Look for drips, corrosion or staining around it<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th scope=\"row\" data-label=\"Check\">Tell others<\/th>\n<td data-label=\"What to do\">Make sure the people who use the property know where it is<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th scope=\"row\" data-label=\"Check\">Book help if faulty<\/th>\n<td data-label=\"What to do\">Call a plumber if it is stiff, leaking or ineffective<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ppb-sec\">\n<h2 id=\"holiday\">Holiday homes and empty properties<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<p>This is where a working stopcock earns its keep, and where a seized one costs the most.<\/p>\n<p>In a property that stands empty for months, there is nobody to hear a hose fail, a toilet run, or a pipe start weeping. The water keeps coming and nothing stops it until somebody arrives \u2014 which can be weeks. The usual culprits:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>washing machine or dishwasher hoses failing while nobody is there;<\/li>\n<li>a toilet running continuously;<\/li>\n<li>pipework failing after months of no use;<\/li>\n<li>a hidden leak building up behind a wall or under a floor.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Turning the water off at the stopcock when you lock up is the only measure that works on all four.<\/b> It costs nothing and takes a few seconds, and it is the single most effective thing an absent owner can do \u2014 provided the valve turns, which brings us back to testing it.<\/p>\n<p>The rest of the routine is in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.100percentplumbing.com\/plumbing-maintenance-checklist-for-holiday-homes-in-calpe-and-costa-blanca\/\">plumbing maintenance checklist for holiday homes in Calpe and the Costa Blanca<\/a>. And because hard water here works on valves as much as on boilers, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.100percentplumbing.com\/how-hard-water-affects-pipes-boilers-and-applicances-in-costa-blanca-homes\/\">how hard water affects pipes, boilers and appliances<\/a> explains why a valve seizes here faster than it would elsewhere.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ppb-sec\">\n<h2 id=\"plumber\">When should you call a plumber?<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ppb-decide\">\n<div class=\"ppb-decide__col ppb-decide__col--now\">\n<p class=\"ppb-decide__h\">\n      <svg viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"1.9\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M12 4.5 2.8 20h18.4L12 4.5Z\"\/><path d=\"M12 10v4.2M12 17.2v.4\"\/><\/svg><br \/>\n      Now\n    <\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>There is an active leak and the valve will not close it<\/li>\n<li>You cannot find the stopcock and water is escaping<\/li>\n<li>The valve broke or started leaking when you tried to turn it<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<div class=\"ppb-decide__col ppb-decide__col--wait\">\n<p class=\"ppb-decide__h\">\n      <svg viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"1.9\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><circle cx=\"12\" cy=\"12\" r=\"9\"\/><path d=\"M12 7v5.2l3.2 1.9\"\/><\/svg><br \/>\n      Book an appointment\n    <\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>It is stiff, but nothing is leaking<\/li>\n<li>It turns but does not fully stop the water<\/li>\n<li>You cannot work out which valve controls the whole supply<\/li>\n<li>There is corrosion or staining around it<\/li>\n<li>It is blocked in behind storage or a fitted unit<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>If you are not sure how urgent something is, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.100percentplumbing.com\/when-to-call-a-professional-plumber\/\">when to call a professional plumber<\/a> covers where the line falls. And if a pipe has already failed, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.100percentplumbing.com\/who-can-repair-a-burst-pipe-in-calpe\/\">who can repair a burst pipe in Calpe<\/a> is the one to read \u2014 starting with shutting off the stopcock.<\/p>\n<p>Where a leak has no obvious source, locating it properly matters more than opening surfaces: see <a href=\"https:\/\/www.100percentplumbing.com\/how-to-detect-a-slab-leak-befoer-it-damages-your-property\/\">how to detect a slab leak before it damages your property<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.100percentplumbing.com\/hidden-water-leaks-and-high-bills-how-to-spor-the-warnings-signs-early\/\">hidden water leaks and high bills<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ppb-trust\">\n<div class=\"ppb-trust__item\">\n    <b>Valve checks on any visit<\/b><br \/>\n    <span>If we are already on site, confirming your stopcock works takes a minute.<\/span>\n  <\/div>\n<div class=\"ppb-trust__item\">\n    <b>Our own guarantee<\/b><br \/>\n    <span>We offer our own comprehensive guarantee for the work we carry out.<\/span>\n  <\/div>\n<div class=\"ppb-trust__item\">\n    <b>136 Google reviews<\/b><br \/>\n    <span>Verified reviews from customers across the Costa Blanca.<\/span>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>We inspect, repair and replace stopcocks and isolation valves across the Marina Alta \u2014 see <a href=\"https:\/\/www.100percentplumbing.com\/general-plumbing\/\">general plumbing<\/a>, our full <a href=\"https:\/\/www.100percentplumbing.com\/plumbing-services\/\">plumbing services<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.100percentplumbing.com\/should-you-repair-or-replace-old-plumbing-pipes\/\">whether to repair or replace old plumbing pipes<\/a> if the valve turns out to be the least of it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- \/.ppb-body --><\/p>\n<div class=\"ppb-sec\">\n<h2>Related Services<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ppb-svcs\">\n<div class=\"ppb-svcs__grid\">\n    <a class=\"ppb-svc\" href=\"https:\/\/www.100percentplumbing.com\/general-plumbing\/\"><span class=\"ppb-svc__t\">General Plumbing<\/span><span class=\"ppb-svc__d\">Valves, pipework, repairs<\/span><\/a><br \/>\n    <a class=\"ppb-svc\" href=\"https:\/\/www.100percentplumbing.com\/domestic-water-supply\/\"><span class=\"ppb-svc__t\">Domestic Water Supply<\/span><span class=\"ppb-svc__d\">Mains, pressure, valves<\/span><\/a><br \/>\n    <a class=\"ppb-svc\" href=\"https:\/\/www.100percentplumbing.com\/emergency-plumbing\/\"><span class=\"ppb-svc__t\">Emergency Plumbing<\/span><span class=\"ppb-svc__d\">Leaks you cannot isolate<\/span><\/a><br \/>\n    <a class=\"ppb-svc\" href=\"https:\/\/www.100percentplumbing.com\/plumbing-services\/\"><span class=\"ppb-svc__t\">Plumbing Services<\/span><span class=\"ppb-svc__d\">Everything we cover<\/span><\/a>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ppb-areas\" style=\"background:#F5F7F8;border-radius:5px;padding:20px 24px;margin:28px 0\">\n  <span class=\"ppb-areas__k\">Where we work<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Calpe \u00b7 Benissa \u00b7 Moraira \u00b7 Teulada \u00b7 Benitachell \u00b7 Javea \u00b7 Denia \u00b7 Jalon \u00b7 Pedreguer \u00b7 Ondara \u00b7 Pego \u00b7 Orba \u00b7 and the rest of the Marina Alta<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ppb-sec\">\n<h2 id=\"faq\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<details class=\"ppb-faq__item\">\n<summary>What is a stopcock?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"ppb-faq__a\">\n<p>The main valve that controls all the water entering a property. Closing it shuts off the water to the whole building, which is what limits the damage when a pipe fails.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details class=\"ppb-faq__item\">\n<summary>Which way do you turn a stopcock off?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"ppb-faq__a\">\n<p>Clockwise to close, anticlockwise to open \u2014 the same direction as a tap. Turn it gently by hand and never force it with a wrench.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details class=\"ppb-faq__item\">\n<summary>Where is the stopcock usually located?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"ppb-faq__a\">\n<p>Under the kitchen sink, in a utility area, in a bathroom cupboard, in the garage near where the water enters, by the entrance or meter cupboard, or outside in a meter box. In apartments it may be in a communal service area or near the water meter.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details class=\"ppb-faq__item\">\n<summary>Is a stopcock the same as a stop tap?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"ppb-faq__a\">\n<p>Yes, the two names are used for the same valve. In Spain you will also see it called the llave de paso, which is useful to know when describing it to a plumber or looking for it labelled in a service cupboard.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details class=\"ppb-faq__item\">\n<summary>What should I do if my stopcock is stuck?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"ppb-faq__a\">\n<p>Do not force it. A seized valve forced with a wrench can break open, leaving water running with no way to stop it. Have it looked at while nothing is leaking.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details class=\"ppb-faq__item\">\n<summary>Should every homeowner know where the stopcock is?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"ppb-faq__a\">\n<p>Yes, and so should anyone else who uses the property. Knowing where it is and that it works is what turns a burst pipe into a wet floor rather than a flooded house.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details class=\"ppb-faq__item\">\n<summary>Can I turn off the water before going away?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"ppb-faq__a\">\n<p>Yes, and it is the single most effective thing an absent owner can do. It protects against failed appliance hoses, running toilets, pipework failures and hidden leaks that would otherwise run for weeks with nobody there.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<div class=\"ppb-close\" style=\"background:#1B3A8F;background:linear-gradient(90deg,#1B3A8F 0%,#2BA6DE 100%);border-radius:5px;padding:34px 32px;margin:40px 0 0;color:#E4F3FB\">\n<h2 style=\"color:#fff;font-weight:300;line-height:1.4;margin:0 0 12px;text-align:left\">Not sure yours works?<\/h2>\n<p style=\"color:#E4F3FB;max-width:560px;margin:0 0 22px\">Go and turn it now, gently. If it will not move, or moves but does not stop the water, get it replaced while nothing is leaking \u2014 it is a short job today and a very different one in an emergency.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ppb-close__btns\" style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:10px\">\n    <a class=\"ppb-btn ppb-btn--solid\" style=\"background:#F5871F;color:#fff;border-radius:4px;padding:0 30px;min-height:46px;display:inline-flex;align-items:center;text-decoration:none\" href=\"https:\/\/www.100percentplumbing.com\/contact-us\/\">Request A Free Quotation<\/a><br \/>\n    <a class=\"ppb-btn ppb-btn--line\" style=\"background:transparent;color:#fff;box-shadow:inset 0 0 0 1px rgba(255,255,255,.6);border-radius:4px;padding:0 30px;min-height:46px;display:inline-flex;align-items:center;gap:9px;text-decoration:none;white-space:nowrap\" href=\"tel:+34965835939\"><br \/>\n      <svg width=\"16\" height=\"16\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"1.9\" aria-hidden=\"true\" style=\"width:16px;height:16px;flex:0 0 16px\"><path d=\"M6.5 3.5h3l1.5 4-2 1.5a12 12 0 0 0 6 6l1.5-2 4 1.5v3a2 2 0 0 1-2.2 2A17 17 0 0 1 4.5 5.7 2 2 0 0 1 6.5 3.5Z\"\/><\/svg><br \/>\n      +34 96 583 5939<br \/>\n    <\/a>\n  <\/div>\n<p class=\"ppb-close__note\" style=\"color:#CDE9F7;margin:18px 0 0\">24h emergency help line \u00b7 607 415 520<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- \/.ppb --><\/p>\n<p><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n  \"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@graph\":[\n    {\n      \"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\n      \"itemListElement\":[\n        {\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.100percentplumbing.com\/\"},\n        {\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Plumbing\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.100percentplumbing.com\/category\/plumbing-costa-blanca\/\"},\n        {\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"What is a stopcock and why every homeowner should know where it is\"}\n      ]\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\n      \"headline\":\"What is a stopcock and why every homeowner should know where it is\",\n      \"description\":\"What a stopcock is, which way to turn it, where to find it, how to test it, and why an absent owner should close it before locking up.\",\n      \"datePublished\":\"2026-08-06\",\n      \"dateModified\":\"2026-10-23\",\n      \"inLanguage\":\"en\",\n      \"author\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"100% Plumbing S.L.\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.100percentplumbing.com\/about-us\/\"},\n      \"publisher\":{\n        \"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"100% Plumbing S.L.\",\n        \"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.100percentplumbing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/logo-600.png\"}\n      },\n      \"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.100percentplumbing.com\/what-is-a-stopcock-and-why-every-homeowner-should-know-where-it-is\/\"}\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\":\"HowTo\",\n      \"name\":\"How to turn off a stopcock safely\",\n      \"step\":[\n        {\"@type\":\"HowToStep\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Find the valve\",\"text\":\"Locate the internal stopcock, not an appliance isolation valve.\"},\n        {\"@type\":\"HowToStep\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Turn it clockwise\",\"text\":\"Clockwise closes and anticlockwise opens, the same as a tap. Turn it gently, by hand.\"},\n        {\"@type\":\"HowToStep\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Do not force it\",\"text\":\"If it will not move easily, stop. A seized valve forced with a wrench can break, and it tends to break open.\"},\n        {\"@type\":\"HowToStep\",\"position\":4,\"name\":\"Check the water stopped\",\"text\":\"Open a cold tap. If water keeps running after a few seconds, the valve turned but did not seal.\"},\n        {\"@type\":\"HowToStep\",\"position\":5,\"name\":\"Keep it accessible\",\"text\":\"Do not store anything in front of it, and label it so other people can find it.\"}\n      ]\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\n      \"mainEntity\":[\n        {\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What is a stopcock?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"The main valve that controls all the water entering a property. 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In Spain it is also called the llave de paso, which is useful to know when describing it to a plumber or looking for it labelled in a service cupboard.\"}},\n        {\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What should I do if my stopcock is stuck?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Do not force it. A seized valve forced with a wrench can break open, leaving water running with no way to stop it. Have it looked at while nothing is leaking.\"}},\n        {\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Should every homeowner know where the stopcock is?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Yes, and so should anyone else who uses the property. Knowing where it is and that it works is what turns a burst pipe into a wet floor rather than a flooded house.\"}},\n        {\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Can I turn off the water before going away?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Yes, and it is the single most effective thing an absent owner can do. It protects against failed appliance hoses, running toilets, pipework failures and hidden leaks that would otherwise run for weeks with nobody there.\"}}\n      ]\n    }\n  ]\n}\n<\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A stopcock is the main valve that controls all the water coming into your property. To shut the water off, turn it clockwise. Gently, by hand, and never with a<\/p>","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":1651,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_titles_title":"What Is a Stopcock? 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