Leaky Stop !!!!

AlwaysSomething

Hi,
I have a small water leak, and I need to shut off my supply. The stop !!!! is very stiff and I need pliers to turn it. If I turn it clockwise, I can reduce the flow to a trickle, but it won't stop completely.
Should I just turn it really hard, or would it maybe free up if I waggle it back and fore several times? Any better ideas?
Thanks

macman

Turning it 'really hard' may just shear it off. You could try loosening it up with some penetrating oil or WD 40.
You need to get it replaced pronto, because if you do have a major leak then you will be unable to shut off the supply.

mikey72

Can you turn the water off outside?

If not a quick fix is to fit a second stopcock, while sticking a paint tray under the pipe as you cut it.

I replaced two yesterday, one that sheared the wheel off as I tried to turn it, the other just refused to move at all. Fortunately one was the heating tank, the other the hot water.
I still have to replace the main stopcock, as it leaks for a week when you touch it. Fitting a second one seems the easy way, as it's a pain to get to anyway.

keystone

What macman says is correct. You stand a good chance of wrecking it. I';d leave it well alone. I'd be tempted to do the repair with the small trickle coming though. Depending on where it is you can always open other taps downstream of the leak to mitigate any spills

As regards replacing it if you have room upstream off the existing stopcock then I'd just fit a second one. Its eminently doable even with just a trickle coming through the existing.

Fit one of these:



and use it as your stopcock for the future. Yes they are prefectly fine and legal to use for this purpose. Note it is a full bore one.

If you don't have room you'll have to shut off in the street at the company stoptap. Remove the old dodgy one and replace it as above. Do not try and do it without having first shut off the company stoptap and under no circumstances should you attempt to freeze the main using one of those silly carp DIY freezing kits from the sheds. In either case I can assure you you will get very very wet.

Cheers

keystone

mikey72 wrote: »

If not a quick fix is to fit a second stopcock, while sticking a paint tray under the pipe as you cut it.

+1 but don't forget that the pipework upstram of the stopcock will also be full of water. A paint tray might just be a tad insufficient.

Cheers

southcoastrgi

or fit one of these

http://www.surestop.co.uk/

mikey72

keystone wrote: »

+1 but don't forget that the pipework upstram of the stopcock will also be full of water. A paint tray might just be a tad insufficient.

Cheers

So, you've been there when you've disconnected the old pipes, after all the water's stopped, then you hear the ominous rattling and gurgling from the open end of the pipe going up the wall?
Then you find out how fast you can get a compression joint done.

I hate carpets, tiles are the best thing ever invented, particuarly when you've been left the keys, unless you're downstairs and the floorboards are up.

AlwaysSomething

keystone wrote: »

Fit one of these:

I don't think I'm applying any more force than the handle on that would.
Thanks everyone for your help. I turned on the outside hosepipe tap, and that was enough to drain away the trickles. So I can pretty much cut off the water supply to the house in an emergency. I was able to fix my leak in about 5 minutes.
Stop c*ck is pretty inaccessible, so it's hard to fit another one immediately downstream. However, there is some accessible pipework not far away I think I will fit a second valve there. It misses out the kitchen sink and the washing machine, but the washer has its own tap anyway.
Cheers

DVardysShadow

AlwaysSomething wrote: »

Stop c*ck is pretty inaccessible, so it's hard to fit another one immediately downstream.

Stopcock is all one word with not a hint of smut

keystone

southcoastrgi wrote: »

or fit one of these

http://www.surestop.co.uk/

Yes but, call me old fashioned and silly, but I've never quite plucked up the courage to fit one of those. I'm sure they are OK but there's just something about the concept that worries me.

Cheers

keystone

mikey72 wrote: »

So, you've been there when you've disconnected the old pipes, after all the water's stopped, then you hear the ominous rattling and gurgling from the open end of the pipe going up the wall?

as the vacuum breaks. Oh yes and anyone who claims they haven't is either a superstar or telling porkies.

Then you find out how fast you can get a compression joint done.

I find its the speed of the thumb over the open end thats crucial and then finding that the parts you need to make up the joint live are just 2cm out of reach. Still you now have time for the "!!!!!! am I going to do now" thought process to get into high gear.

Cheers