Cold water mains

[jonifife]

Evening,

Taken up part of the kitchen ground floor to make good and discovered a few problems with the main cold water supply pipe runs in the sub floor void to the riser in the corner.

Could anyone comment in the following:

The pipe is dark in colour and is on the bend, could it be lead? is there a problem with this?

The pipe has lots of condensation on it (which has evapourated since the floors been taken up) any way of stopping it? ventilate I guess

There also seems to be a small leak on the joint below they floor.

The leak is located before the stop tap on the riser so assume to turn the supply off would have to do it in the street.

Is there a problem doing work on it as it is a mains supply?Does the pipe belong to me?

Are lead pipes hard to work with to fix. don't really love plumbing, can do a bit but find it so frustrating.

Overall damp conditions are not good as it is below a timber floor and there is a tiny bit of dry rot going on (guess thats for another forum) so will have to get rid of the leaky pipe and condensation to help sort it out.

cheers

jf

 

[Softus]

Evening

Morning.

The pipe is dark in colour and is on the bend, could it be lead? is there a problem with this?

Lead is prohibited in new installations, for health reasons. Also, over time, it gradually becomes more brittle and prone to cracking. With this in mind most people replace entire sections of lead pipe when the opportunity arises, i.e. when other groundwork is being done.

If isn't lead, then it could be Alkathene, which is black in colour, and rarely causes a problem.

The pipe has lots of condensation on it (which has evapourated since the floors been taken up) any way of stopping it? ventilate I guess

Ventilate, yes, or insulate the pipe to prevent humid air from touching it.

There also seems to be a small leak on the joint below they floor.

A joint on the mains below floor level?

The leak is located before the stop tap on the riser so assume to turn the supply off would have to do it in the street.

You assume correctly.

Is there a problem doing work on it as it is a mains supply?Does the pipe belong to me?

If there is a service valve in the pavement/street, then that 'belongs' to the water supplier. Any pipe between that valve and your property belongs to you and the maintenance of it is your responsibility.

Are lead pipes hard to work with to fix.

Yes. Fixing normally isn't viable. Better to replace the damaged section (please see above). If you have a leak then you may just have to bite the bullet and invest some money in it now.

Overall damp conditions are not good as it is below a timber floor and there is a tiny bit of dry rot going on (guess thats for another forum) so will have to get rid of the leaky pipe and condensation to help sort it out.

Damp rot isn't good, but it isn't that hard to get rid of once you've eliminated all leaks.

 

[jonifife]

Thanks for the advice.

Not 100% sure its lead but don't think its alkathene.

Unfortunately there is a coupling under the floor.
There is a bit of gynastics before the pipe gets to the riser so if lead becomes brittle then it has probably been replaced at some time (without them doing the whole lot), maybe it goes from lead to copper at the joint (need to have another look).

Its going to be a bit of a job to replace the whole pipe if it is lead as the kitchen is at the back of the house. I have no idea at the momment of the routining but the the front passage way is concreted so access maybe a bit of a problem.

Have to have a bit of a think about this. Maybe have to run a new pipe elsewhere if poss and leave the old one in.

Cheers

 

[Softus]

Many people, when faced with your situation, i.e. lead pipe seeming to be running underneath the house to the back, dig a trench alongside the house and drill under the footings at the side/back.

It sounds like you need to at least get some of that floor up to remedy the leak though.

 

[jonifife]

Terraced house so can't do that! Don't think there is an easy solution.
AH well next door has it worse off as they have the drainage run under their house (this was also leaking and caused a bit of settlement a little while ago).

Who knows what lurks beneath when you are buying into a terraced Victorian!

Floor is already up as we are making good to sand and seal floor boards. Will screw a couple down for access for when i can get round to sorting it