mains water valve

[stuartw]

what do mains water valve look like

[rsd2525]

some are 'T' shaped ,some round, others need a bar to turn, generally turn on your cold water tap inthe kitchen and turn the one you suspect of being the mains(i assume you're trying to find it not buy one?

[stanleyman]

You should have a valve outside underground, can be anywhere between the house and the road where the water main is, maybe with a water meter. You need a long metal tee rod with a U piece at the end from B&Q to turn it off.

Then you should have another valve inside the house attached to a blue pipe if the house or plumbing is newish or it can be black plastic, copper or lead. This valve is often under the kitchen sink directly feeding the cold tap but can be anywhere, usually near the front of the house or even under the floor where the pipe comes in.

This main valve can look like an old fashioned or outside tap or it maybe a more modern lever valve. Spray the shaft with WD40 before moving as they can be very tight with lime scale.