Main Stop Co.ck Problem

SimbaSimon

Getting the sink replaced soon as getting new worktops and they mentioned we needed to turn the water off for the plumbing of the sink. I found a tap in a cupboard in the kitchen in the front of the house and turned it off but the water was still coming out of the main taps. Tried running the water in the bath for a while to see if it was coming out of the tank but didn't seem to be stopping so I'm guessing this isn't the main stop tap although it was coming out of the ground through a tunnel'y bit via thickish black pipe. Theres another tap in the airing cupboard but guessing this is just for the boiler. So I'm really not sure if this is the mains tap or not but guessing it can't be and not really sure what to do. I'm really not DIY minded I could get my local plumber out but without knowing where it is I don't know if I'd be wasting my time. Any suggestions?

anotherbaldrick

The first stopcock you tried probably is the right one but perhaps it is stiff and has not turned fully off . Take a really firm hand of it and see if you can get it to turn further. Their will be a mains stopcock in the ground just inside the house boundary under a small cover but you may need a long box key to turn this

SimbaSimon

Thanks for the quick response. That would make a lot of sense as I can't find another pipe thats like the black one and there is some limescale on it and its quite stiff to turn. The fact that its coming in to the ketchin on one of those really big underground pipe things makes even more sense but having never seen one I wouldn't know, and searching on google doesn't bring up much results due to the nature of the search! I'll try loosening it up and see if I can turn it off and is all fails, see about getting the tape replaced with a newer type before the modifications to the kitchen are done.

anotherbaldrick

SimbaK2K wrote: »

Thanks for the quick response. That would make a lot of sense as I can't find another pipe thats like the black one and there is some limescale on it and its quite stiff to turn. The fact that its coming in to the ketchin on one of those really big underground pipe things makes even more sense but having never seen one I wouldn't know, and searching on google doesn't bring up much results due to the nature of the search! I'll try loosening it up and see if I can turn it off and is all fails, see about getting the tape replaced with a newer type before the modifications to the kitchen are done.

Good Move ! It might need turning off and on several times during the kitchen renovations and having a valve that turns easily will be a godsend

Steve_the_fitter

Be careful of man handling the stopcock connect to the black pipe. A lot of black pipe was imported in the late 70's (I think) and it can be very brittle

Dippypud

http://www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk/stop_tap/Stop_tap.htm

Read on down.....

SailorSam

Check out to see do you have a second stopcock,
If you're going to turn the water off outside you're better off getting a new stopcock for the inside, for the cost at least you're sure of something that works if you ever have an emergency.

googler

SimbaK2K wrote: »

Getting the sink replaced soon as getting new worktops and they mentioned we needed to turn the water off for the plumbing of the sink.

If 'they' are kitchen installers, won't they be bringing a plumber with them to install the sink, and won't he know what to do with regard to turning the water off?

freezspirit

I had this problem, tried to turn off stopcock in kitchen, water still running even if we turned off the main stopcock outside property. Waterboard came out to replace faulty water meter stopcock and at the same time we replaced the kitchen with a lever stopcock as its easier for me to turn on and off.

Not only can Limescale effect the stopcock but the mechanism of the stopcock can become worn and therefore less effective in stopping the water.

Dippypud

This might help:

http://www.directline.com/home/the-stopcock-video.htm

pictures always help, cos we know what we're talking about, but you have to sort a problem and your not sure.

Sometimes a stopcock is called a gate valve, if it's a lever thing rather then a tap or wheel type.

Canucklehead

Dippypud wrote: »

This might help:

http://www.directline.com/home/the-stopcock-video.htm

pictures always help, cos we know what we're talking about, but you have to sort a problem and your not sure.

Sometimes a stopcock is called a gate valve, if it's a lever thing rather then a tap or wheel type.

Hi,

A stopcock is ... a stopcock.

A gate valve is ....a gatevalve.

A ball type valve (lever or screwdriver operated) is a...... ball type valve(lever or screwdriver operated).


They are different from each other that's why they have different names.

If I have to deal with this kind of thing I always find where the next valve is so that I can work on the faulty one without any risk of getting wet.


GSR