Mains water pipe leaking and I can't turn off stock cock--help!

[sonaldo]

Water pipe under floorboards leaking. Stop cock under cover outside house but don't know how to turn off. The screw keeps turning clockwise and anticlockwise inde

 

[Burnerman]

Have you tried turning it just one quarter of a turn?
John

 

[sonaldo]

I've turned it clockwise 12+ times. Not sure how one quarter turn would work?

In which direction?

 

[Burnerman]

The valve in the water meter maybe a 1/4 turn type......mine is!
Have a tap running and get someone to yell when the flow slows up.
If I'm correct, all you are doing is causing the water to turn off /on/off/on as the valve is spun.
John

 

[JohnD]

Either.

 

[JohnD]

The handle to turn it off is missing.

If you look at your water company website it will probably show you how to do it, and maybe supply a new one.

When I had one that looked similar, there was a blue plastic handle with a hex socket like a spanner to turn the hex. Not the screw.

The handle could be pulled off to prevent interference. Maybe a neighbour will let you borrow theirs. Or a socket set from somebody who mends cars.

For a significant leak, the water co will come and turn it off.

 

[JohnD]

I hear it may be a 10mm socket. You'll need an extension bar and preferably a T handle.

 

[sonaldo]

I’ve found the plastic key/spanner! But turning seems to have no effect. Which way should it go?

 

[JohnD]

Clockwise to screw downwards. It should reach the end of travel after a few turns.

I hope your work on the screw has not loosened it.

 

[JohnD]

Give your water co a call.

 

[sonaldo]

Thanks John. I tightened screw a bit then went a few turns clockwise with the spanner and it’s stopped

Thanks so much!!

 

[sonaldo]

Update! depsite the stopcock being fully turned off and having no water in the house, the leak, which is on the mains water supply about 1m from the stopcock, is still leaking but only a little bit... does this mean the stopcock is knackered?

got a plumber round but he's saying it can't be fixed without the leak being 100% stopped so not sure what the options are really

 

[JohnD]

Turn on the cold tap in the kitchen. Does the flow die away?

What is the old pipe made of? Lead? Iron?

You can mechanically repair a pipe that has water in it.

It is difficult to solder a wet copper pipe but I don't think that's your problem.

 

[sonaldo]

No water whatsoever from the kitchen tap.

We think it's a lead pipe. Nextdoor neighbour had to repair his too

 

[Burnerman]

If you scrape the pipe, and it’s bright underneath it’s lead alright.
(pleased the mystery of the stopcock was sorted!)
John