Two questions - stopcock / mains tap

[dsbuds]

Hi all,

Trying to fit a new bath tap/shower mixer to the bathroom, unfortunately there are no isolators fitted, and the usual story the main stopcock was seized.

Got the stopcock moving (loosening the gland nut, working back and forth), but whilst it turned the water off almost all the way, it didn't fully shut it off. Turned it back out and then back in, went gritty feeling and now does nothing (presume the 1960s washer has broken up).

Went outside to the street, it has a water meter with a plastic tap. I cannot for the life of me turn it, tried with grips, fashioned a key out of some timber (broke the timber), Screwfix/Toolstation and even city plumbing couldn't offer any keys. The plastic bit has some play each way but won't turn.

Anyone know the name for the key needed, or is this a water co job to fix the outside tap?

Cheers,

 

[Exedon]

That looks like a quarter turn valve but if it's stuck I wouldn't be trying to move it.
We would just freeze the pipework above existing stop tap and fit new lever valve.
You can get cheap pipe freezing kits but I would suggest hiring a electric pipe freezer.
You can then take as much time as you like.
In the 3 water suppliers areas we work in they will only attend to non working external stop taps in 'extreme emergencies '
When I asked them to define that they all said water flowing out of the door!

 

[dsbuds]

Hi Exedon,

Thanks for your reply. Above the stopcock is a drain off valve and then it runs up behind the kitchen cupboards, as you can see I've already butchered this one a bit to get access - a new kitchen is on the cards in the next couple of years. I am pretty certain the kitchen is a solid floor, but I've got the downstairs flooring up at the moment so I will double check. Would they (1960s) normally have run the incoming pipe into the suspended floor space, or would they have run it fully underground and just popped it up in the kitchen?

Could you give me an idea of what price you'd be charging for this kind of job?

I have popped an email off to the water supplier just on the off chance they may help, their first email back to me did allude to the fact they could come and check if it was functional, but did not mention charging (which I have now asked!). If they can confirm their tap works (or free it), then that would give me a bit more confidence in DIYing a new stop tap (and replacing the bath taps, which is the job i'm trying to do in the first place!).

Cheers

 

[Madrab]

If the meter isolation valve won’t turn, then time to get the water transporter out, that’ll be their job to fix.

 

[CountryFan]

Hi all,

Trying to fit a new bath tap/shower mixer to the bathroom, unfortunately there are no isolators fitted, and the usual story the main stopcock was seized.

Got the stopcock moving (loosening the gland nut, working back and forth), but whilst it turned the water off almost all the way, it didn't fully shut it off. Turned it back out and then back in, went gritty feeling and now does nothing (presume the 1960s washer has broken up).

Went outside to the street, it has a water meter with a plastic tap. I cannot for the life of me turn it, tried with grips, fashioned a key out of some timber (broke the timber), Screwfix/Toolstation and even city plumbing couldn't offer any keys. The plastic bit has some play each way but won't turn.

Anyone know the name for the key needed, or is this a water co job to fix the outside tap?

Cheers,

That doesn't look like the right part to turn. Can you take a photo further back to include the full chamber?

 

[dsbuds]

Hi Stuckinarut,

The rest of the chamber is just my meter (removed due to serial number, etc). The water company has already confirmed this is "one of their new taps that is less likely to snap" but I'm a bit wary of testing that theory, albeit I think I found a compatible key on Amazon.

I've contacted the water co so will update if they will charge for a visit and what happens.

Cheers!

 

[HERTS P&D]

I just normally use a stopcock key and turn them, some are stiff when they havn't been used in a while.

Andy

 

[dsbuds]

They looked a bit big when I looked at them in Toolstation and City plumbing, but will give the Amazon special a go (has two sizes on the end, one for a brass stopcock and a slot which looks like it's just the right size and shape for this one), that is unless SSW get there first and tell me to man up.

 

[Madrab]

Just don't go too gung ho - I did it once, snapped the head off the toby in the closed position, client didn't have water for 2 days until they came out to replace it. Now If I can't move it with my big SW key, donated by an ex water chap, then they get a call, if they snap it then they're already there to dig it up and replace it.

 

[dsbuds]

Cheers Rob!

Water co emailed at 1 this morning advising an engineer would visit FoC within a few days.

Seems like South staffs water are not like the others!

 

[dsbuds]

Lo and behold: Dsbuds is a weakling

The engineer visited, found nothing wrong with the outside tap (I think he loosened it, it moves more freely now), and even read my meter for me! It is indeed a quarter turn, clockwise (12 o'clock to 3 o'clock) for off from the position in the picture.

Whilst I couldn't change my stopcock (I tried, the nuts are solid and I'm a bit concerned about twisting the incoming pipe!), I've reassured myself the incoming pipe is indeed copper, and managed to change my bath taps just with the outside tap off. I'll get the plumber who comes to fit my new bathroom (in about 3 months) to change or add a new stopcock/ball valve for me.