Stopping HW and mains water

[chriselevate]

Hi,

As some of you might know I'm refitting my kitchen and whilst doing it I need to move my service pipes.

In order to work on them how can I stop my HW and Mains water?

My mains stopcock under stairs has warn out so doesn't switch off fully so I guess I'll need to switch that off in the road instead?

How can I stop the HW coming down from the HW tank in the loft?

Thanks for any help you can give.

 

[45yearsagasman]

There should be a 22mm gate valve on the cold feed from the loft tank to the bottom of the cylinder. Usually near the cylinder. Turn that off and the hot water will stop after a few seconds(depending on system). It may be that the gate valve has seized and that presents another problem. First things first, try turning the gate valve off.

 

[chriselevate]

Really appreciate that. And the really quick response.

Thanks for that!!

A couple of questions:

1. Should the mains valve in the street FULLY stop the mains coming into the house? I think it the past it doesn't lock off FULLY, perhaps I need to use a bit more force to get it tight?

2. Trying to get a plan together to bury the service pipes in my ballast but can't decide how to do it - what your advice on that? I guess the things to think about are 1. The movement of the pipes through expansion and contraction 2. If they need to be accessed if there's a problem 3. Stopping them from corroding due to the cement.

Thanks again

 

[dcawkwell]

Use the road stock valve to shut off the supply to the house as best as it can then replace your house stop valve. Then you can do anything in the house. Simply open the taps and you will run out of water.

 

[chriselevate]

Thanks for this.

I've tried that today (valve in the pavement outside) and it's not shutting off the mains water inside the house either. I left the cold taps (that I know are mains ie kitchen) running and it never stopped. I could hear water still passing through the vale outside so I even tried a small spanner to get it tight but still didn't work.

Phoned south east water and they said they would come to fix it. I said it's holding work so please come soon!!! Any idea how long these things can take and any idea how they'll fix it?

Thank again

 

[HERTS P&D]

Hire a plumber with a 'freeze master' that way he can freeze your incoming water main and fit a new stopcock.

Happy Days

Andy

 

[dcawkwell]

Thanks for this.

I've tried that today (valve in the pavement outside) and it's not shutting off the mains water inside the house either. I left the cold taps (that I know are mains ie kitchen) running and it never stopped. I could hear water still passing through the vale outside so I even tried a small spanner to get it tight but still didn't work.

Phoned south east water and they said they would come to fix it. I said it's holding work so please come soon!!! Any idea how long these things can take and any idea how they'll fix it?

Thank again

Pretty quick where I live in the north but you are down in the south
so might be months.

 

[Nige F]

Us Sussex plumbers aint got freeze masters

 

[HERTS P&D]

Go on Nige, go round and do it 'live' you know its good for your blood pressure.

Andy

 

[chriselevate]

You guys are CRAZY!!!!!!!!!!!!

lol!!!!!!!!