Where's My Stop-Cock?

[chuckalicious]

Now, this is a shameful thing to ask, I know, but I don't know the answer....

I bought a period house (Victorian) just before Christmas, and have just realised I have no idea where the mains stop-cock is. The house has been extensively re-worked so there are "dead" pipes all over the place under the floor (as in they go nowhere) so I have no idea where to look. There are valves with big red taps on them all over the place.

I'd rather not go around turning each one and wait for something to stop working!!

Is there a rule of thumb as to where one would be? I'm guessing it's going to be on the ground floor somewhere

Thanks

 

[JohnD]

a Victorian house may well have one in a pit beside where the front gate used to be.

If you can find where the incoming pipe comes into the house (probably under the front door) it probably continues in a straight line.

You might have to dig up the front garden a bit. Stupid people often bury them or lay paving on top.

You can also ask your neighbours who have houses of similar age and style. The same builder probably used the same method.

 

[Fluffster]

The red valves are gate valves and only control the movement of water inside your house from tanks etc.
Pete

 

[JohnD]

good point. A stop-cock has a "T" shaped handle, not a wheel-shaped one.

 

[TicklyT]

Possibly under the kitchen sink?.... Providing the sink is in it's original location, that is.... Maybe the original, victorian brass 'T' handled stopcock patinated by age, and with a wiped joint on the end of the lead water main

 

[scatmanjohn]

I used to live in a very old house (1832) on three floors. The stoptap was in the living room on the middle floor behind the telly.

Whats that all about?

 

[Softus]

I used to live in a very old house (1832) on three floors. The stoptap was in the living room on the middle floor behind the telly.

Whats that all about?

It's a relatively modern development that's now in an estimated 98% of UK households. It receives signals broadcast from a central resource via local transmitting stations. Invention of the first viable incarnation of the device is commonly attributed to John Logie Baird, back in 1926.

 

[nickso]

I used to live in a very old house (1832) on three floors. The stoptap was in the living room on the middle floor behind the telly.

Whats that all about?

It's a relatively modern development that's now in an estimated 98% of UK households. It receives signals broadcast from a central resource via local transmitting stations. Invention of the first viable incarnation of the device is commonly attributed to John Logie Baird, back in 1926.

lol is this classic Airplane humour softus?

i have a drinking problem (throws drink into eye)

 

[scatmanjohn]

Very good

I took me a second or two to wonder what the hell you were going on about.

 

[Softus]

lol is this classic Airplane humour softus?

No flies on nickso.

 

[2scoops0406]

I used to live in a very old house (1832) on three floors. The stoptap was in the living room on the middle floor behind the telly.

Whats that all about?

It's a relatively modern development that's now in an estimated 98% of UK households. It receives signals broadcast from a central resource via local transmitting stations. Invention of the first viable incarnation of the device is commonly attributed to John Logie Baird, back in 1926.

Except John Logie Baird's take on the television never went into production being a mechnical device, the first production TV's being based upon Marconi's concepts.

 

[Softus]

 

[doitall]

If you have a well mat by the front door, look under there

 

[big-all]

also try your neibours stop cock
as victorian houses often share in pairs

i share with my neigbour [1907 happy birthday house]and it comes into the house somwhere under the upstairs floor