Caution
A stopcock that is stiff, will not turn or does not stop the water has seized or worn. Do not force it: a snapped valve turns a stuck tap into a flood.
Water around the stopcock comes from the gland nut at the spindle, a loose compression nut or a worn washer. The valve matters because it is how you stop the water.
Low risk
A continuous hum or shudder in the pipes while water flows is a valve or pressure problem, or a pipe moving against a clip or wall.
A whistle or squeal when water runs is flow forced through a gap that is too small: a part-closed valve, a worn washer or a valve that is too tight.
Weak flow on the upper floor with normal flow below is a height problem: the water has less push to climb, or the supply is only just enough.
When the kitchen tap runs and the upstairs taps give nothing, the upper floor is fed from a different source, usually a loft tank, and it has run dry or been cut off.
Water beneath the bath, or a stain on the ceiling below it, usually comes from the waste outlet, the overflow hose or the trap, and only when the bath is used.
A leak under the floor shows as damp boards, a musty smell, a meter that moves with everything off or the sound of water. Confirm it with a meter test, then isolate it.
Describe the job and get a fixed price from a local plumber.
