If water is uncontrolled or approaching electrical equipment, prioritise safety and call a plumber. The guidance below is general and does not replace an inspection.

Understanding the issue

An external valve may serve more than one property or be part of a water-company arrangement. Do not assume it is yours to operate or repair. The supply layout and responsibility need establishing before work is planned.

Before arranging the visit

Provide any water-company information and mention shared paths or neighbouring supplies.

Choosing the appropriate plumbing visit

We establish where the fault appears to sit in relation to the property boundary and internal isolation. Our mains water supply page explains the related work and how an assessment is arranged.

Where the findings point to shared water supply separation, read the shared water supply separation service details before discussing the repair scope. The actual fitting and access determine the work needed.

Information worth keeping

Record when the issue occurs, the affected room and any previous repair. For a property in our home area, plumbing in West Bridgford explains the local enquiry route; check the coverage directory for another postcode.

Connected questions

For a related question about mains water supply, the guide Water Everywhere? Find Your Stop Tap Before the Ceiling Gets Worse explains what to record next.

For a related question about mains water supply, the guide Low mains flow throughout the house explains what to record next.