Stopcock problem

[Woodie69]

I've just move into a new house and yesterday my husband went to turn the water off so we could plumb in the washer. However, when he turned the stopcock as far as possible the hot water stopped but the cold decreased in flow but wouldn't stop completely. What could be wrong? Is it possible we didn't leave it long enough-left it for about 15 mins. If there is a problem I assume we would need to turn the water off outside-is this easy to do and what am I looking for.

Thanks

 

[bobthebender]

You might not have an ouside stop tap.
Freeze pipe and fit a new one.

 

[BoxBasher]

I would be careful about using the extrenal stopcock because some water co's charge for breakage.

Leve the cold tap running and try to "up and down" the stopcock.

This just means opening and closing (gently) a few times to clear any debris from the internal workings of the tap.

Failing that it's either freeze the pipe (or use outside stopcock) and replace the workings of the tap, or renew it completely.