Plumbing Problem

girlpower

Need to replace washer in tap but have found main stop tap is not turning the water off.

warmhands.coldheart

girlpower wrote: »

Need to replace washer in tap but have found main stop tap is not turning the water off.

Is the tap mains fed or from a water tank. If water tank, turning the mains feed off will not stop the flow until the water tank is empty. If it is water tank fed, there should be a tap/stop-c0ck by the water tank

girlpower

Thanks, No I don't have my own cold water water tank, I should have mentioned it is a flat.

warmhands.coldheart

girlpower wrote: »

Thanks, No I don't have my own cold water water tank, I should have mentioned it is a flat.

Are you turning off the correct stopc0ck? Sorry, don't mean to sound patronising but my now wife lived in an appartment block and all the stopc0cks were bunched together and was a bit confusing at first look.

girlpower

girlpower wrote: »

Thanks, No I don't have my own cold water water tank, I should have mentioned it is a flat.

I have turned the main stop tap off (as far as it will go) and although it has reduced the flow of water, there is still water coming though to taps in both bathroom & kitchin. I have also got someone considerably stronger than me to see if they can turn the stop tap any further than I have (although I have managed it perfectly well in the past) but still no joy.

girlpower

warmhands.coldheart wrote: »

Are you turning off the correct stopc0ck? Sorry, don't mean to sound patronising but my now wife lived in an appartment block and all the stopc0cks were bunched together and was a bit confusing at first look.

Yes it is inside my flat

warmhands.coldheart

girlpower wrote: »

Yes it is inside my flat

Do you know if you have a water meter? There should be a way of isolating your water supply there if you do have one. It should be outside at the boundry of your building somewhere. I'm nearly sure all properties (houses and flats) should have an outside stopc0ck where the water company can isolate your water.. Alternatively I think you'll have to get a plumber in..

girlpower

warmhands.coldheart wrote: »

Do you know if you have a water meter? There should be a way of isolating your water supply there if you do have one. It should be outside at the boundry of your building somewhere. I'm nearly sure all properties (houses and flats) should have an outside stopc0ck where the water company can isolate your water.. Alternatively I think you'll have to get a plumber in..

Thanks, No I am not on a water meter, looking at the water company website it looks like there should be another stop tap outside ( as you stated) but that only they (the water company) are alloed to turn that one on or off, it also states you must have the agreement of everyone else supplied by that tap/pipe.
I don't mind getting a plumber in if I have to but as far as I can see they won't be able to do anything unless there is a way to turn off the water.

warmhands.coldheart

girlpower wrote: »

Thanks, No I am not on a water meter, looking at the water company website it looks like there should be another stop tap outside ( as you stated) but that only they (the water company) are alloed to turn that one on or off, it also states you must have the agreement of everyone else supplied by that tap/pipe.
I don't mind getting a plumber in if I have to but as far as I can see they won't be able to do anything unless there is a way to turn off the water.

I know only "they" should in theory turn it off but as long as you get all your neighbours permission to go ahead, can't see the problem. Might be worth getting a plumber in anyway to change your stopc0ck under your sink for the future..

DaftyDuck

If you are feeling brave, and it's not really that brave, turn the stoptap off as far as possible, turn ALL the cold taps on (and flush loos as well), and see how much water flow you have from the tap in question. It may be no more than a dribble... in which case go ahead and change the washer. Have a friend handy to keep flushing those loos, and have all the tools you need close to hand.

warmhands.coldheart

DaftyDuck wrote: »

If you are feeling brave, and it's not really that brave, turn the stoptap off as far as possible, turn ALL the cold taps on (and flush loos as well), and see how much water flow you have from the tap in question. It may be no more than a dribble... in which case go ahead and change the washer. Have a friend handy to keep flushing those loos, and have all the tools you need close to hand.

I like it :rotfl:... I can just see a Mr Bean moment happening :rotfl:... Should work though in theory if you have all the bathroom taps etc running I suppose..