When a leak occurs, your immediate reaction might be to ring a plumber. However, British Gas recommends there’s an essential action worth taking beforehand – particularly during crises.

The energy provider’s guidance centres on your stopcock – the critical plumbing valve that regulates water flow to a property. Understanding its location, purpose, and how to shut it off can prove invaluable when pipes rupture or other domestic incidents arise.

A specialist from British Gas recently shared their expertise on Instagram. She said: “Did you know that your house has an emergency off button for the water, but in an emergency situation, do you actually know where it is?

“Your stopcock is most commonly found under your kitchen unit. Your stopcock can also be found in your downstairs toilets or in your utility rooms. Sometimes your stopcock can also be located in your outside meter, normally in your driveway.”

If you’re having difficulty locating your stopcock, follow the pipework backwards from the tap until you discover a valve on your primary water supply. To switch it off, simply grasp the handle and rotate it clockwise until you encounter some resistance.

The expert continued: “Make sure to test this, as they can seize up. Winter isn’t waiting, and neither should you. Go and locate and test your stopcock today.”

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British Gas further noted that burst pipes are particularly prevalent during wintry conditions and typically occur when a pipe freezes. Tell-tale signs of burst pipes include an unexpected decline in water pressure, moisture patches, or water stains appearing on walls and floors.

In addition to shutting off the stopcock, households should turn on all taps to empty the system in these situations. However, the water supply itself must stay off until an engineer can assess and fix the problem.

According to the Mirror, Joanna Flowers, a British Gas service and repair engineer, also said recently: “Frozen pipes are one of the most common issues we see during cold snaps, but the good news is they’re usually simple to sort out if you act quickly.

“If you do run into any issues and you call before 11am, one of our engineers will be with you the same day.” Neverthless, the easiest way to avoid costly repairs caused by frozen pipes is to prevent them from freezing in the first place.

Covering pipes with affordable insulation from a DIY store helps preserve heat and minimise heat loss. Further online advice from British Gas explains: “Insulating your pipes and water tanks is one of the best ways to prevent them from freezing.

“You can buy inexpensive pipe lagging and tank jackets from most DIY stores and fit them yourself for free. Just make sure you check the pipe and tank measurements first.”