outside stopcock buried

[bepto]

I am having my front garden & driveway block paved and have just noticed today that the guys have buried my outside stopcock under the hardcore which has been delivered today.

They have gone home for the day but should I mention it to them tomorrow? or is it ok to bury the stopcock? I do have a usable stopcock inside the house.

Any help appreciated.

 

[Burnerman]

Its very important to have the outside stop cock to use in case your own fails.....I'd insist it was reinstated.
John

 

[Charnwood]

And when you're on holiday, and there's water gushing out of your letterbox........

 

[GeeTee]

Absolutely not acceptable. S^d's law says if you don't bury it you'll never need it, but if you do... you definitely will need it, urgently.

Just think - what are going to do if you get a leak on the pipework before your internal stopcock, or even after it only to find your internal stopcock no longer works (doesn't close off fully or breaks off in your hand when you try to close it thanks to having not been moved for years)? Even if you get an emergency plumber out inside an hour, that is an awful lot of water flowing damaging your home in the meantime.

They should have spotted it when they quoted for the work, but even if you have to pay a little extra to retain access to it, it needs to be done.

Maybe one of the professionals here (or in the building forum) would like to advise how best to go about extending the length of the access chamber if so required to get up to a higher drive level.

 

[HERTS P&D]

And when you're on holiday, and there's water gushing out of your letterbox........

Always turn off the stopcock when going away!

Andy

 

[Charnwood]

I don't think I ever have. No leaks, must be bl00dy lucky!

 

[HERTS P&D]

I do a lot of insurance work, I had a job last week where the customer had to come back from holiday (in England) as her neighbour had phoned her telling her that water was coming out of the bottom of her front door. She had a new kitchen fitted and a push fit joint had come apart and flooded the whole ground floor of her house. It was Feked!

Andy

 

[Charnwood]

No push-fit here. Well, not 'til I fit the new basin and shower.

Perhaps I ought to also be thinking about fitting a Surestop.

 

[HERTS P&D]

I thought the sure stop were made for the elderly generation.

Andy

 

[Charnwood]

I'm 57 and retired. Do I qualify?

Anyway, I'm on me jollies for a week and guess what?

 

[HERTS P&D]

You didn't turn off your stopcock?

Andy

 

[Charnwood]

You got it in one.

To be fair, a neighbour is going in 3 times a day to feed and walk the dog and my sis is staying there from Tuesday night 'til we get back.

Still considering a Surestop as getting to our stop cock is like something out of the Krapton Factor.