replacing a stopcock query

1984ReturnsForReal_2

Avoriaz wrote: »

Or use a pipe freezing kit.

You shouldn't be using that on mains pressure without putting it on two bends & as it is likely to be a compression fitting you more than likely have to take one of those bends out.

Avoriaz

ih8stress wrote: »

You need to be able to turn off a mains stopcock quickly in an emergency
I know. Which is why I was annoyed that he didn't even tell me about it when it happened
but it might just be easier and cheaper to keep some £5 mole grips beside it rather than paying £60 for a new tap.A good tip, thanks. Though I would be abit worried about damaging it. Would it just be the narrow spindly bit sticking forward that I turned?

If only the spindle remains, then you really need to replace it.

I am able to use mole grips because some of the handle remains. Also it is not the stopcock on my rising main but another stopcock in the loft on the central heating tank supply. I can use the rising main stopcock if I can’t turn it.

Stopcocks are rarely used so do tend to stick and can become very difficult to turn. With just the spindle, mole grips might not shift it and you don’t want to find that out in an emergency.

Get your plumber to fit a new one at a sensible price.

Good luck.

27col

If you do not exercise a stopcock at regular intervals it will seize up as sure as little eggs. I have come across this many times in the past. Although I have never had one snap off. I have also, on one occasion just replaced the internals on a stop !!!! that had been soldered into the pipe.

iamcornholio

When stop cocks fail, then its always better/easier/quicker (and cheaper) to just unscrew the centre gubbins and replace, rather than actually fitting a complete new tap. So a plumber should not be charging top money for a simple replacement

Also, if you need to mess about with a stop tap, consider fitting a SureStop at the same time

Canucklehead

iamcornholio wrote: »

When stop cocks fail, then its always better/easier/quicker (and cheaper) to just unscrew the centre gubbins and replace, rather than actually fitting a complete new tap. So a plumber should not be charging top money for a simple replacement

Also, if you need to mess about with a stop tap, consider fitting a SureStop at the same time

They do not always interchange



GSR.

SailorSam

In my last house because of where the valve was in the cupboard there was no room for a handle so i left a small spanner next to it all the time so it was there ready in an emergency but in reality you don't turn the water off that often. When i had a new kitchen fitted it was a little taller so the tap was under the units so it was a case of moving the tap which was a messy job, or cutting a hole in the unit which i thought would be unsightly. The option i went for was to leave the water on and get a key to turn the water off outside in the street, if you do this don't forget to check it once a year that it's clean for you to get into.