Water problems

davholla

I live in a semi detached house with shared water with my neighbours.
When it is very cold I sometimes lose my water. Next door was not affected but after they poured boiling water down (outside in the street) where our stop !!!! is the water came back but it has gone again. Thames water say that they will not help. Any ideas how I can get them to help?

It is outside of my property so I think it is their responsibility.

Steve_xx

When you say outside of your property you should understand that the pipe that feeds from the mains in the street and into your home is your responsibility. From what you say it sounds like the feed pipe is not buried deep enough into the ground to prevent it from freezing. It will be your responsibility to have it remedied. You can either pay someone to do the work or you can undertake to do it yourself if you feel competent enough to do so.

MX5huggy

If that is all that needs doing to fix the problem, sounds like it just needs some insulation round the stopcock. a lump of polystirean maybe.

davholla

Steve_xx wrote: »

When you say outside of your property you should understand that the pipe that feeds from the mains in the street and into your home is your responsibility. From what you say it sounds like the feed pipe is not buried deep enough into the ground to prevent it from freezing. It will be your responsibility to have it remedied. You can either pay someone to do the work or you can undertake to do it yourself if you feel competent enough to do so.

I thought that if it is outside our property (ie not on our land) it is Thames water's problem. Anyway it is ok now and we are just going to leave a tap running all winter from now on.

davholla

MX5huggy wrote: »

If that is all that needs doing to fix the problem, sounds like it just needs some insulation round the stopcock. a lump of polystirean maybe.

It is underground - we can not get access to it.

As we are not metered leaving a tap on is cost effective.

Steve_xx

davholla wrote: »

I thought that if it is outside our property (ie not on our land) it is Thames water's problem. Anyway it is ok now and we are just going to leave a tap running all winter from now on.

The portion of the supply pipe that is not on your property will be Thames Waters' responsibility but as soon as it enters your garden it's your responsibility. See the link:

http://www.unitedutilities.com/Documents/1894_3151_20Relaying_20lead_20pipe_208PP.pdf

davholla

Well I poured hot water a few feet away from my garden and that solved the problem - so it looks like it is their responsibility.

However suppose the problem is under my neighbours garden??

Steve_xx

davholla wrote: »

Well I poured hot water a few feet away from my garden and that solved the problem - so it looks like it is their responsibility.

However suppose the problem is under my neighbours garden??

If you look at the link I provided you will see that this is probably a common supply pipe and therefore you and your neighbour/s are responsible for it.