How do i stop a leaking exterior pipe

jcr1987 · 28 Sep 2010

Hi all,

We have an outhouse in our garden with an old unused toilet in there. The problem i have with it is that the water pipe to the toilet is leaking and I don't know how to stop it.

To explain, the pipe comes up out of the concrete floor for about 6 inches, then there is stopcock, and then 6 inches up there is a hose tap fitted. The remainder of the pipe carries on up to the toilet cistern. The problem lies with the stopcock and the hose tap. The stopcock is rusted over and cannot move, and the connector nut from the hose tap to the pipe is where the leak has occured as the pipe must have been bent or loosened a little when i tried to stupidly force the stopcock closed.

I did consider heating up the stopcock to try and loosen it so i can shut the water off, but can't see how i'd do that as the leaking pipe is covering the stopcock with water so no heat could be generated. I can't tighten the connector nut to the pipe from the hose tap as every time i've tried to I end up pulling the pipe when trying to turn the nut and i'm worried i might split or even break the pipe completely.

Any ideas how to stop it?

Cheers,
JR

kevplumb · 28 Sep 2010

first things first whats the pipe made of

jcr1987 · 28 Sep 2010

kevplumb said:
first things first whats the pipe made of

I'm guessing copper? Looks like original pipe from when constructed so if not copper, its whatever they used to use in the 'old days' (1950ish).

kevplumb · 28 Sep 2010

scrape it with a knife

what color is it

methinks it may be lead

ismellgas · 28 Sep 2010

are you trying to get rid of this pipe? I'm going to guess its lead because they used that alot in the "old days" lol. turning the water off from the toby (wee cover on street outside your house with a W on it) should stop it, then fix the leak or cap the pipe..

jcr1987 · 28 Sep 2010

kevplumb said:
scrape it with a knife

what color is it

methinks it may be lead

Not at home at the minute to check what material it is. Does it make a difference whether it's lead or copper? All I want to do is either stop the leak or cap it off completely.

jcr1987 · 28 Sep 2010

ismellgas said:
are you trying to get rid of this pipe? I'm going to guess its lead because they used that alot in the "old days" lol. turning the water off from the toby (wee cover on street outside your house with a W on it) should stop it, then fix the leak or cap the pipe..

Will I need at tool to turn it off here?

kevplumb · 28 Sep 2010

Does it make a difference whether it's lead or copper?

just a bit

Will I need at tool to turn it off here?

probably

jcr1987 · 28 Sep 2010

Will I need at tool to turn it off here?

probably

[/quote]

Is is likely to be something I'll have in my toolbox, or a specialised item?

kevplumb · 28 Sep 2010

really depends how deep its buried

if its deep

jcr1987 · 28 Sep 2010

What are these tools called?

kevplumb · 28 Sep 2010

would you belive

stop tap keys

jcr1987 · 28 Sep 2010

Silly question, but by turning this off will it only turn off the water to my property? Just had a quick look on google maps at my house and the water main seems to be inbetween my and next doors house. Does every house have their own one?

kevplumb · 28 Sep 2010

usually every house has a branch off the main

however a shared supply is not unknown

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How do i stop a leaking exterior pipe

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