How to turn off mains

Water mains

In you need to turn off your water supply at the mains, look for the isolator valves under the sink. If there are no valves there, turn off the main stopcock, a brass tap on the pipework that’s usually in the kitchen or wherever your mains water enters the house.

Turn on the cold taps on the sink until the water stops running. If you can’t find the stopcock, turn off the water authority’s valve located in the street or front garden.

Electricity mains

You will need to turn your electricity supply off if you are doing any work to the electrical system, changing a main fuse or have a burst water pipe.

The main electricity supply to your house can be turned off at the switch on the consumer unit or in a separate switch box nearby.

The consumer unit is the box holding the fuses for your electrical system – this can be found under the stairs or in a basement if you have one.

Put your tap back together.