The worst time to go looking for your water shut-off is while a pipe is spraying across the ceiling. Five minutes spent finding and testing it today can be the difference between a mop-up and a ruined ceiling.
Where to look
In most South African homes the main stopcock is at the boundary, in or beside the municipal water meter box — usually near the street or driveway. Many homes also have a second internal isolation valve where the supply pipe enters the house (often near the kitchen or an external wall). Find both now, while it is calm.
How to shut the water off
- Turn the stopcock clockwise (right) until it stops.
- Open a tap at the lowest point of the house to release remaining pressure.
- If a geyser is involved, switch it off at the DB board so the element does not burn out running dry.
Test it before you need it
Stopcocks that are never touched seize up with scale and age — and you only discover it mid-emergency. Gently test yours twice a year. If it is stiff, drips, or will not seal fully, have it replaced; a new isolation valve is cheap compared to the flood a failed one allows.
Make sure everyone knows
In a burst pipe or geyser failure, speed decides the damage. Make sure everyone in the home knows where the stopcock is and which way it turns. Then, with the water off, call us — see our emergency plumber service across Sandton, Midrand and the East Rand.