poppycock

[penrymmj]

My house has a mains feed which splits to the kitchen sink immediately before the stopcock. The stopcock therefore only stops flow to the water tank and not the kitchen. I am currently due to replace the kitchen and so need to turn off the flow in to the sink order to remove it.

Now the quicker of you will not hesitate to tell me that there is a stopcock outside which I can turn off. This I know too well as I have been up to my armpit this afternoon trying to dig the mud from around it . When I eventually removed enough London Clay to get a good look at it I discovered that it appears to be just a round shaft (no flats) and has no "T" handle or square shaft. It does not look to have been snapped off in any way. Below that is a hexagonal section which I take as being the access to the gland .

I tried turning the shaft with a pair of mole grips but could not get enough leverage to move it.

Is there something that I am missing or is there another tool that I need for my constantly increasing collection?

The only solution that I can think of is to either add another stopcock to the spur or to move the first stopcock upstream of the junction. Will an aerosol pipe freezing kit be suitable for mains water pressure?

 

[ollski]

Try the universal key here , Alternatively is there not a mains stopcock in the path, it may be shared with a couple of neighbours but you only need to shut it off long enough to fit in a compression isolation valve.

 

[mildmanneredjanitor]

Hi penrymmj

I may be wrong here, but I imagine that the external stopcock is the responsibilty of the water board to maintain. If you cannot isolate this then give them a call and I would imagine that they will replace it free of charge?

Gotta be worth the price of a telephone call?

Just encountered a similar problem today! though the property I was working on is a office/residential development. After speaking to the office next door they informed me that one of the original plumbers visited there place to turn off there water - he cockily replied 'I'll find it - no prob' left very shame faced admitting defeat!

In the end I fitted a length of flexible hepworth pipe into the outlet side of a stopcock (fully opened) and dipped this into the toilet bowl, then (after stripping off!) cut the pipe using a copex cutter and quickly pushed the stopcock (plenty of PTFE tape + some around the olive) onto the incoming water pipe. Most of the water just shot through the temp pipe giving me time to tighten the compression nut. When tightened I could close the stopcock.

I was quite pleased with myself. I just looked like I'd pee'd myself though!

 

[penrymmj]

Thanks for the reply.

ollski, I assume that you mean the universal 6 in 1.

I am not sure how this would grip a round shaft? There are no flats on the stem at all.


mildmanneredjanitor,

I may have to give your patented method a go, I guess I get a free cold shower to boot!

 

[taydo]

I live in norfolk come across faulty water board stop valves all the time, I just call em up they come out within a couple of days and replace it with new type no charge
Give yours a ring see what they say

Brian

 

[ChrisR]

Worth that call,but areas vary. In north London the local policy is to fill the pavement stopcock holes with concrete. Their policu is that there is no obligation to turn your water off so it's your problem.

Yes the diy freezer kits are ok, if youcan get decent access to the pipe.

If you have to cut a pipe live make sure the taps on the other branch (outside tap?) are open - keeps the pressure down a bit.

 

[breezer]

If you have to cut a pipe live make sure the taps on the other branch (outside tap?) are open - keeps the pressure down a bit.

if not this may be of use

 

[masona]

In case you run out of time,use this

Better than Breezer recommendation,specially if the water is above your head.

 

[ChrisR]

When do you guys sleep?

 

[masona]

When do you guys sleep?

7am onward,the nightshift boys take over this forum while the dayshift boys rest at night
As you're in ChrisR,can I go home now