A few problems

[Steve]

New house. Gas leak isolated and no longer smells. Gsr coming weds to cap the meter so i can rip out the boiler and fires.

Anyway I've drained down the radiators with the help of a self cutting tap and Ball cock tied up. My attention turns to the hot water. Gravity fed.

When we turn on any hot tap it runs for a few seconds quite normally then just fades and stops. Something is telling me air lock and I need to do the old trick connecting the hot and cold taps together with a hose. Is this right?

Further, the main stop tap is on lead and I can't turn it. I want to cap off the water to the loft completely, I have a few push fit stop ends. How much force can you put on a stop tap on lead? The water meter appears to have been fitted where the outside stop tap would have been.

 

[Nozzle]

The water meter usually has a stop valve built in to it too, so that's handy!

Nozzle

 

[Steve]

The water meter usually has a stop valve built in to it too, so that's handy!

Nozzle

Really! I never knew that. How do I get at it? Bearing in mind said meter is down an 18 inch hole. . .

 

[FiremanT]

There should be a long handled hex key . It may be lying under water, If missing, look or feel for hex nut. You should be able to turn by hand, but you may need to get wet

 

[Steve]

They usually leave the long hex key on site down the hole then? I'll check for this after work. Can wd40 help free up a stuck tap?

 

[Nozzle]

On mine it's just a valve you turn by 90 degrees. Plastic rectangular thing about 1 inch by 1/2 inch.

Nozzle

 

[FiremanT]

Is the meter under water? If not, it should be easy to ID the valve, whatever type, now you know it is there somewhere. And it always is.I have never had on seized, but I am sure someone will contradict me