Published 20 March 2025.
What do you know about the stopcock, boilers and fuse box in your home?
A lot of us don’t know much about the innerworkings of our home…
With the rising cost of bills, we’re all paying closer attention to how much our homes are costing to run. Knowing a bit about your stopcock, fuse box, meter and boiler could help you manage your bills better and resolve issues quickly.
Not knowing how our homes function, or where key elements are located, could result in us not noticing key issues which could lead to big problems in the future.
Although a good home insurance policy will likely cover you for damage caused by burst pipes and water leaks, it may not cover your claim if it is deemed that the water damage was caused by neglect… so it’s time to swot up on your utilities!
So, how can you spot and fix problems in your home before they escalate?
The stopcock
A stopcock is the control which turns your water supply on and off – this is the only way to quickly stop a leak in its tracks.
Although a leak is a common occurrence, it's easy for it to be mistaken for something else – and therefore ignored until it’s too late.
So, make sure you:
• Check your water usage and bills to see if there are any sudden increases – this could be an indication that you have an ‘escape of water’ in your home.
• Check your water pressure - no one enjoys a low-pressure shower, plus it could be a sign there’s a leak in your pipes.
• Check for mold and damp smells, as well as puddles on the floor, as this could indicate an underground water leak.
If you have spotted a leak, make sure you locate the stopcock and turn off your water supply completely!
What you’re looking for is a tap situated between two lengths of pipe. Stopcocks are located under the kitchen sink in most homes, but in an older home, you may also want to check if your stopcock is:
• In a bathroom cupboard
• Under the stairs
• In the hallway
• Near the garage
• In the airing cupboard
• Around the boiler
• Around the front door
Once you’ve found it, turn the stopcock in a clockwise direction to stop the water supply to your home. It may take a few turns of the stopcock and a few minutes for the water to completely stop, so be patient and keep at it!
If you need to get your water supply running again, simply turn the stopcock anticlockwise and wait a few minutes for the water to return.
If you need to get your water supply running again, simply turn the stopcock anticlockwise and wait a few minutes for the water to return.
Remember, it may take a few turns of the handle, so make sure it’s definitely the stopcock you’re turning and that you’ve turned until you can’t turn it anymore.
If water is still running, the stopcock could be faulty, in which case you’ll need to call a plumber to replace it.
Top Tip: Over time, stopcocks can break, meaning they’re not very helpful in your moment of panic! So, make sure to check your stopcock by turning on a tap and then turning off the stopcock off to see if the water stops.
Top Tip: You may want to turn your internal stopcock off when you’re away from home for a while, to prevent any water-related incidents while you’re away!
The fusebox
A fuse box is the central switchboard for all the electricity in your house. The power supplied by your utility provider goes to the fuse box and then around your home to power up your appliances and electricity.
You may have heard the phrase ‘a tripped fuse box’ which is used when electricity cuts out throughout your property. This can be lots of different reasons such as a faulty appliance or too many appliances being used at once.
The fuse box ‘tripping’ is not a bad thing, it’s a safety mechanism to cut off a sudden surge in electricity that could otherwise be dangerous, and it’s easy to get things back up and running again… as long as you know where your fuse box is!
Fuse boxes tend to be found in cupboards, communal hallways or basements and are located within a metal box on the wall.
All you need to do is make sure all the switches are set to the ‘on’ position.
Top tip: If you attempt to flick a switch to ‘on’ and it immediately trips again, this could be a sign that there is a faulty appliance still connected to the mains electricity within your home.
The boiler
The purpose of the boiler is to heat water for distribution throughout the house, like via our taps and showers.
Boilers are often located close to the rooms in which they’re most needed - such as the kitchen, bathroom, or utility room and is usually encased in a large white metal box.
Look for the filling loop on your boiler (it’s the silver flexi pipe with a tap on it), and this will allow you to repressurise your boiler if needed. To increase the pressure, turn the tap by 45 degrees. A good pressure level should read around 1 Bar on the pressure gauge - this will show within the ‘green zone’.
Repairing your home
Your insurance provider will team up with their suppliers and tradespeople to explain what work is needed and to make sure you’re happy with the process.
Your home will need to be dry before repairs can go ahead – this may happen naturally or by arranging for drying equipment to be installed. In this case, you may have to remove some fixtures and fittings to help dry out the property, but your insurer should arrange this for you as part of the drying programme.
The contractors working at your house will work with you to minimise any disturbance to your family life, however at times disturbance is unavoidable, so your insurer should chat to you about alternative accommodation.
When all work is finished, you’ll be asked if you’re happy with the repairs that have been completed before closing the claim.
So, to avoid any damage to your home that could have been prevented, use our top tips from this article to familiarise yourself with the innerworkings of your home…
