Out house water supply

[Leighp]

So I've recently moved into my property - mid terrace Victorian.

Due to the small kitchen the out house about 20ft down the split garden has plumbings for washing machine - no problem saves on noise anyway.

However the water pressure is less than terrible in the outhouse. average water pressure should be 1l per 7-10seconds it takes in excess of 1min to get 1l.

All of this results in my washing machine giving me an error code (for incufficiant water) every time I use it.

The out house has its own stopcock I turned it off cut back till was just a few mm of pipe left to make sure it wasn't existing pipe work causing the issue and pressure is still bad. So assuming it's the stopcock to be the issue - I turned the water off at the mains (in the street) and to my surprise this water is still flowing (albeit slowly) the rest of the house is off. I've hunted high and low in and around my garden for another supply for it.

So my question is - is there anyway I can change the stopcock without turning off the mains? And also is it likely this is a free water supply? In which case I really want to get it working.

 

[noseall]

And also is it likely this is a free water supply? In which case I really want to get it working.

Don't start a thread with the word 'So' and you may offend some plumbers who have a financial interest in water supply companies.
Do you have free gas and electricity too?

 

[Leighp]

And also is it likely this is a free water supply? In which case I really want to get it working.

Don't start a thread with the word 'So' and you may offend some plumbers who have a financial interest in water supply companies.
Do you have free gas and electricity too?

Helpful answer of the year award right there.

I'm sure someone working for a major water company couldn't care less if I'm not paying for a water supply to my out-house that consists of a washing machine and a sink? For all I know it could well be connected to my meter I'm just missing a trick, hence why I'm looking for advice not the English language police.

i work on the railway ... Ever used a train without a ticket? Oh wait I don't care.

 

[noseall]

I'm sure someone working for a major water company couldn't care less if I'm not paying for a water supply to my out-house .

That's not what I said. I said someone with a financial interest in the company.

I'm sure someone working for a major water company couldn't care less if I'm not paying for a water supply to my out-house that consists of a washing machine and a sink?

And then once you realise the supply is free, you'll no doubt have your entire house connected to it.

Water meter by-pass of the year award right there.

 

[bernardgreen]

average water pressure should be 1l per 7-10seconds it takes in excess of 1min to get 1l.

That is flow rate, not pressure, It could be high pressure supplied through a small constricted pipe, perhaps a second hidden stop cock that is almost closed. Measure the static pressure ( static pressure is when there is no flow ).

Is there a water tank in your loft. If so could the supply to the outhouse be from there ? At 1 ltr per minute it would take a long time for the average loft tank to drain out via the outhouse.

Any other stop taps in the street ?

Are you on a water meter or un-metered ? If not on a meter then the water rate will cover the cost of the water you think might be free.

 

[Leighp]

average water pressure should be 1l per 7-10seconds it takes in excess of 1min to get 1l.

That is flow rate, not pressure, It could be high pressure supplied through a small constricted pipe, perhaps a second hidden stop cock that is almost closed. Measure the static pressure ( static pressure is when there is no flow ).

Is there a water tank in your loft. If so could the supply to the outhouse be from there ? At 1 ltr per minute it would take a long time for the average loft tank to drain out via the outhouse.

Any other stop taps in the street ?

Are you on a water meter or un-metered ? If not on a meter then the water rate will cover the cost of the water you think might be free.

Thanks I'll check the static pressure.
I have a meter and a combi boiler so no tank?

There are other taps out in the street but one In front of each house, don't want to go turning nothing else is visible

I'm going to take the patio up in front of the outhouse today to see if I can follow where the pipe work goes.

I was hoping for some trick of the trade so I could change stopcock without finding it. Trying to be lazy. Ha.

 

[endecotp]

I've wondered if a metal detector could be useful in cases like this.

 

[KenGMac]

Leighp, hi

A possibly off the wall suggestion?

But you will need to spend some money in a Hire Shop and get a hold of a so called CAT Scanner, these devices are glorified metal detectors with various functions available used primarily to locate underground electrical cables. so widely used by ground workers Etc. Google them.

Also available with the Scanner is a sending device that you attach to the pipework and a pulse of radio energy is induced into the pipe which will be picked up by the hand held scanner, even at some distance from the sending source.

The sender is primarily used to find pipe routes and cables with no power going through them, such as a cable with an underground break.

The trade off you have to consider, if you have not located the underground pipe yet is it worth spending some money on hiring the kit as opposed to your time in trying to find the pipework by excavations?

Ken.

 

[Himaginn]

First of all, it won't be the first time a stopcock has continued to pass water, after you think it's turned off. Did you check the supply to the house when you turned off the stopcock?
Secondly, are the houses all the same layout, all with outhouses? Sometimes these outhouses were shared between more than one property.
Thirdly, if the adjoining houses were occupied, at one time, by relatives, (not uncommon) it's possible that the supply to your outhouse is derived from next door's outhouse.
Finally, you're in the wrong forum. You should be in plumbing forum.

Ask the mods to move it for you. Just use the report function.