Emergency - tap not turning off.

elvis_bloggs

Have you tried white vinegar.

Tim_L

Reading back through this I think the most likely cause is that the knob is not turning the valve - if you can get the knob off then you should be able to turn it by other means. What kind of a tap is it? And is it a kitchen sink or another basin - this is important because if it's a kitchen sink it should be connected directly to the 'rising main' (i.e. the pipe from the outside world into your house), whereas if it's a basin it will be fed from another cistern probably in the loft which you may be able to turn off independantly by jamming the stopcock up. This will allow you to get the mains water back on and hence you will have heating again.

The main thing I think is to try and limp along until tomorrow, when (a) plumbers will be slightly cheaper if available and still needed, and (b) you'll have access to a plumbers merchant or DIY shop if necessary. If the tap fills the sink and there's a danger of overflowing then can you get a hose on it and trail it out of the window?

Most plumbing isn't difficult and it's well worth anyone learning a few of the basics - changing fittings isn't at all difficult but best learned when not under pressure and not attempted in the evening!

Gingham_Ribbon

Yes it's the kitchen sink. It's a mixer tap with fat, round handles rather than ones with a kind of cross at the top. That was a mistake too. They've always been difficult to use when my hands are soapy anyway!

I think that's sensible advice too. Tomorrow all will be calmer. And I will do the babysitting at my friend's house instead of having the kids here. Also, it's not the end of the world if the tap just runs for a while. The sink isn't blocked.

Thanks all. And well done Elvis, for making me laugh. Am just about starting to calm down now. (It wasn't fun moving the washing machine to try to find the stop tap! My back isn't exactly what it was...)

Gingham breathes an 'it's all going to be fine' sigh.

Thanks all. x

Tim_L

Probably obvious, but keep an eye on the sink and, do turn it off at the stopcock before retiring for the night just in case!

djohn2002uk

If it's "the fat round handles" I'm thinking of, they have a plastic disc in the top. Try lifting it out with a small screwdriver or a knife and there's a screw underneath which may have come loose. Tightening the screw may cure it, or, could be broken and undoing the screw will release the whole "fat round handle" and leave you a square brass spindle which you should be able to turn with an adjustable spanner or pliers or mole grips.

Gingham_Ribbon

Off to try now. (I kept the water off. Couldn't stand seeing it all go to waste like that!)

Gingham_Ribbon

Right, that was moderately successful. I took the top off easily but the screw didn't want to go any tighter so I unscrewed it and took the fat bit off. (Note the technical terminology!) I could tighten the screwy bit a little. Enough that when I turned the water back on it's now just a trickle rather than a gush, but it's just spinning round when I try to tighten it further.

I've turned the water back off again. :rolleyes:

djohn2002uk

The inside of the head ( the fat round bit) should have a square bit that fits over the square on the spindle. I should have said that you must make sure that it lines up properly so that the one fits on the other before trying to tighten up the screw. If the screw had loosened enough for the head to rise above the spindle then it will go round and round. just put the head back on gently and turning at the same time and you should feel when it drops over the square on the spindle then insert the screw and tighten it and the tap should work. Check inside the head first that it isn't broken inside. If it is then you should be able to just buy that bit at a builders merchants.

Gingham_Ribbon

Great, thanks. Hubbie home so he's just about to read all this!

plumb1_2

hope you have his supper ready:D