broken stopcock... help!

nurse_nina

i know i'm female... but trust me if there was a 'tap' we could turn off, we would! there doesn't seem to be a key to turn it off other than the one seven trent own! (possibly so they can turn your water off if you don't pay your bill?) and i could live without a dishwasher, but we have no kitchen or bathroom plumbed in which is a bit different...
so my options are, make one to fit, or wait for seven trent! think i'll go with the latter, annoying but hey. thanks for the advice though!

deanos

You just need to buy a stop tap key, they are readily available to buy, and most plumbers should have them as part of there kit

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/STOP-TAP-KEY-/160487015912?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item255dc585e8
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Long-Stop-Tap-Key-975mm-/250714231999?pt=UK_DIY_Materials_Plumbing_MJ&hash=item3a5fbb94bf

keystone

deanos wrote: »

You just need to buy a stop tap key, they are readily available to buy, and most plumbers should have them as part of there kit

OP was told this on both the 18th and 19th above but apparently missed both posts.

Cheers

nurse_nina

regarding the numerous posts advising 'just buying a stop tap key' its not that simple because the ones in the links posted are the wrong ones and we've asked 2 plumbers and been to most of the DIY stores in the west midlands but they don't know of any tool that will fit it! so we're assuming its one that only seven trent have so they can turn your water off if you don't pay (we're on a meter) will take a pic of the tap if i can to post so you can see the fitting it needs... either way ST are coming thursday to turn it off anyway.

deanos

Ah right so the stop tap is in the meter box, if you can take a pic ASAP as i might have a spare one i could send you if its the same ones i have

lapat

Cardew wrote: »

Any plumber will fix or replace the stopcock under the sink very easily.

I know what I would do(as a non plumber) - get something like WD 40 or any commercial 'easing oil' spray for seized threads and try to free it off.

are you real do you know what wd40 or easing oil would do to contaminate the water supply if it was to ingress into the water.

lapat

Premier wrote: »

Turn it off at the valve in the street.

I think the local water authority is supposed to do it (in case you knacker the valve) ... but it's dark now and no one will see you

I don't know what sort of key you need - all the ones I know of (and that includes some in the Severn Trent area) just need a socket - I think it was supposed to be square iirc, but any suitable sized socket works.

What you will probably need is quite a long extension as they are often quite deep in the ground.

you dont need permission to turn your water off outside, and as for the stop !!!! key, has none of your neighbours got a meter box at the boundary if so ask them if you can have a look in there sand borrow there key.

hope this helps

Premier_2

nurse_nina wrote: »

regarding the numerous posts advising 'just buying a stop tap key' its not that simple because the ones in the links posted are the wrong ones and we've asked 2 plumbers and been to most of the DIY stores in the west midlands but they don't know of any tool that will fit it! so we're assuming its one that only seven trent have so they can turn your water off if you don't pay (we're on a meter) will take a pic of the tap if i can to post so you can see the fitting it needs... either way ST are coming thursday to turn it off anyway.

I'm intrigued :huh:

Would love to see that photo if you've managed to get one.

This is what all the ones I've seen look like ... after you've got rid of the water, muck and other nasties they are usually covered with.

Gothicfairy

lapat wrote: »

you dont need permission to turn your water off outside, and as for the stop !!!! key, has none of your neighbours got a meter box at the boundary if so ask them if you can have a look in there sand borrow there key.

hope this helps

Errm not sure about this, if you break it then you could be causing a main flood which is a lot of water and can then reduce pressure to the whole street or can even cut off the water to more then one property.
There is no way to say for 100% that the main stop tap will only turn off your property as a lot of older houses/ flats share a mains tap and the internal is used for the property.
Also not sure what a stop tap key would be doing in a boundary box for a meter ? The main stop tap in not always located at the meter point for each property either.

Oh and it would take a lot of WD40 to make the water unsafe, all treatment plants are able to cope with household use for things like WD40 and other sprays. Just so as to not scare people.

lapat

Gothicfairy wrote: »

Errm not sure about this, if you break it then you could be causing a main flood which is a lot of water and can then reduce pressure to the whole street or can even cut off the water to more then one property.
you do not have to notify the water undertaker of your intention to operate your supply to your property, and yes if you break the tap then yes you could be liable to be recharged but also if you in turn had a burst in your property and was unable to isolate the supply with the external tap due to defective or missing stop tap. then im sure your insurance company would be sending a letter in for recompense.

There is no way to say for 100% that the main stop tap will only turn off your property as a lot of older houses/ flats share a mains tap and the internal is used for the property.
entirely true but there is nothing stopping you knocking on your neighbours doors and informing them of your intentions to carry out repairs

Also not sure what a stop tap key would be doing in a boundary box for a meter ?
a plastic one about 8 inches long

The main stop tap in not always located at the meter point for each property either.
all external meter boxes have a stop tap in to isolate the meter for repairs/exchanges and nost should have there plastic stop tap key so as you can isolate it yourself in case of emergency.


Oh and it would take a lot of WD40 to make the water unsafe, all treatment plants are able to cope with household use for things like WD40 and other sprays. Just so as to not scare people.

it may take a lot of wd40 to make the water unsafe but when you complain about a petro chemical or musty taste to your water make sure you inform the inspector that you have used wd40 on your fitments it will stop them taking a costly set of samples to prove that there is no issue with there water supply.
and along with this what happens when you have contaminated your water supply with a PENATRATING oil and there is a burst outside in the street and its sucks all that loveley greasy water back into the street.

hope this helps