Turning off water supply

[red7jase]

Am soon going to tackle bathroom and gathering all relevent info as it comes to me before i start.
Shutting of water supply can i check the procedure
1 turn off main inlet (under Kitchen sink)
2 open all cold taps until run dry
3 open hot taps until runs dry
4 system now empty taps ect can be removed

I have nigglin thought in my head that the hot can be shut off in another way but doin it as above will also work

ready to stand corrected by pros

There will be more Question as i think of them

thanks in advance

Jase

Thanks in advance

 

[dal5band]

Used to do what you described in old houses that didn't have any extra valves (taps). Look in your airing cupboard, there should be two taps called gate valves usually with a round handle. One should turn off the low pressure cold supply to the bath, wash-basin and loo. The other should turn off the cold supply to the hot tank and so the hot should go off.

If they are not in the airing cupboard, they may be in the loft near the cold tank. Gate valves can seized up if they have not been used for a long time so take car not to break the handle.

 

[red7jase]

thanks for speedy reply have looked for the valves and found 2 in airing cupboard and 1 near the cold tank in the loft.
the 2 in airing cupboard air very stiff (scared of breaking them) if i do it the way i described above should this be ok even though i have extra valves

thanks
jase

 

[jobloggs]

what you suggest will fully drain the system.

however on refilling you may well find that you have an airlock in the hot water system. this may be troublesome althgough most can be shifted by connecting mains water to a hot tap and backfilling to force air out.

 

[red7jase]

thanks jo

what is the likelihood of an airlock and how would i connect mains to a hot tap and back fill?

jase

 

[jobloggs]

Likelyhood depends on your pipelayouts but could be quite high.

Last one I cured as follows:

1. Removed the swanneck from the combined taps in the kitchen.

2 Placed a cloth over the hole and VERY firmly pressed down to seal with my hand. You could go to the trouble of using a piece of flat rubber held down with a piece of plywood.

3 Opened hot tap.

4 Slowly opened cold mains pressure tap and held on for a couple of minutes as water was forced back up hot water pipes.

5 Then did the above steps in the reverse order.

If not successful try again for a longer period.

If your kitchen taps are separate you could try linking them with a piece of suitable hose firmly anchored by jubilee clips to both taps.

I would try to turn the gate valves you mentioned previously first rather than risk the airlock. If you can't it would wothwhile to replace them when you do the full drain down. You should not leave these valves fully open, best to close them half a turn. Also worth while to close and open them from time to time to keep them moving.

Good luck.