Frozen Internal Stop Cock and Buried external Stop Cock

[andyaj]

After a bit of advice before I call out a plumber on Monday. My internal stop cock is frozen have tried WD40 but havn't used a wrench as I don't want to tempt fate!

tried locating the outside stop cock but couldn't find it but have chatted to the neighbours and they belive it is under the front lawn!!!

The Lawn outside the house is raised by about 7" so have tried with a fork and it's going to be like finding a needle in a hay stake!

Does anyone have any advice or I'm guessing the only way of fixing this problem is to take the lawn up

Thanks, Andy

 

[Agile]

It must be very cold in Berkshire!

If a stopcock is frozen then you can unfreeze it by pouring boiling water over it.

Tony

 

[kevplumb]

oh how amusing

you could try heating it blowlamp or heat gun

then get a wrench on and rock it but go carefull

 

[andyaj]

Well we wouldn't belive it's Autumn and still wearing a t-shirt!

Thanks for the advice

Don't have a blow touch or heat gun but will try a hair dryer and carefull use a wrench. Will wait till Monday but will give the folks at Dyno-Rod a call for any advice as well.

If all else fails I will have to re-landscape the front lawn!

 

[TicklyT]

Sometimes slackening off the gland nut underneath the handle a bit can free a stopcock.

You may get a bit of water leaking from the gland, which would explain the packing being overtightened in the first place. If it keeps weeping when you re-tighten it, undo the gland nut and put a few turns of rolled up PTFE round the spindle, then re-fit the nut.

 

[Garfeild]

I think he means its seized,not actually frozen due to cold.

 

[Agile]

If he says its frozen then I have to assume thats the problem as I have not been to inspect the problem.

We can only work on what the OPs tell us!

Tony

 

[buck51]

Nearly 24,000 posts and you have not learnt to read "Between The lines" yet. tut tut LOL

 

[HarrogateGas]

If he says its frozen then I have to assume thats the problem as I have not been to inspect the problem.

We can only work on what the OPs tell us!

Tony

We can also work on common sense. The UK ( especially Berkshire) has not yet had a ground frost or temperatures capable of freezing a stop tap!!

 

[tincup]

Metal detector might help?

HTH

 

[Garfeild]

If he says its frozen then I have to assume thats the problem as I have not been to inspect the problem.

We can only work on what the OPs tell us!

Tony

We can also work on common sense. The UK ( especially Berkshire) has not yet had a ground frost or temperatures capable of freezing a stop tap!!

And it would be nice if the OP came back to clarify things,wouldnt it?

 

[andyaj]

Thanks for eveyone feedback.

I've tracked down the previous owner so will be shortly getting hold of his number so hopefully I can find out a little more as to where the lawn the stop cock is before I start digging

 

[htgeng]

Thanks for eveyone feedback.

I've tracked down the previous owner so will be shortly getting hold of his number so hopefully I can find out a little more as to where the lawn the stop cock is before I start digging

get a cheap metal detector from Argos. If they are good enough for our boys to learn how to find IED's in Afghanistan, I think they should be able to find the lid to the stop tap under a lawn

 

[leakydave]

You could also go 'dowsing' for your pipes... when the laughter subsides... give it a try. Has worked for me before... weird stuff!!