Stopcock has seized

loulou41

What do I do if I have a burst pipe. Upstairs sink and toilet have got isolated valves. can I assume that since I have got a combi, there will less problem of having a burst pipe in winter? Thanks

ormus

your chances are certainly better than others. the ch boiler should have a minimum temp setting for winter.
you still need to fix the stopcock though.
try some WD40 and turn the handle gently. find out where the street tap is for any emergency.
and make sure thats free too. often they are buried in muck and stuff.

SailorSam

They're not expensive, even if you get it working if it's old it may only seize up again and if it happend at a time of an emergency, i think you should replace it now. A mixture of heat and WD40 should get it free but turn it off in the street first, just to be on the safe side.

keystone

Turn off at the street then you don't have to worry about freeing it up. After water switched off remove it. Replace it with one of these:


Cheers

loracan1

Replace it now rather than when it needs turning off!

iamcornholio

keystone wrote: »

Replace it with one of these:


Cheers

Do water bye laws allow fiiting of a valve instead of a proper stop-tap?

I'd agree that a full bore lever valve would be good in an easy access place just after the stop-tap though.

The OP should replace the core of the existing stop tap - not the whole lot, but just unscrew the central gubbins and screw in a new section. This saves disturbing the all the joints and is much easier to do. Use a long stick with a V cut into the end to turn off the tap in the road

Or try some gentle heat on the tap and gently try and turn it back and forth to loosen it up.

Inactive

iamcornholio wrote: »

D

The OP should replace the core of the existing stop tap - not the whole lot, but just unscrew the central gubbins and screw in a new section. This saves disturbing the all the joints and is much easier to do. Use a long stick with a V cut into the end to turn off the tap in the road

Or try some gentle heat on the tap and gently try and turn it back and forth to loosen it up.

Good advice...

keystone

iamcornholio wrote: »

Do water bye laws allow fiiting of a valve instead of a proper stop-tap?

Yes they do.

I'd agree that a full bore lever valve......

that is a full bore valve.

The OP should replace the core of the existing stop tap - not the whole lot, but just unscrew the central gubbins and screw in a new section.

]In general terms I would agree with you but in this particular instance I believe that the OP will be most likely be seeking professional assistance to carry out this work and that for ease of OPs future use the existing should be replaced in its entirety.

Cheers

exprog

iamcornholio wrote: »

Or try some gentle heat on the tap and gently try and turn it back and forth to loosen it up.

Sorry, dumb question - what is/gives gentle heat?

Inactive

keystone wrote: »

]In general terms I would agree with you but in this particular instance I believe that the OP will be most likely be seeking professional assistance to carry out this work and that for ease of OPs future use the existing should be replaced in its entirety.

Cheers

What brings you to that conclusion?, I cannot see anything in the OP to suggest that?

keystone

Inactive wrote: »

What brings you to that conclusion?....

Instinct - its usually pretty accurate. In any case lever valves are much better than stopcocks or gate valves IMO - you just be careful not to shut it off too quickly when on a pipe under mains pressure.

Cheers