removing limescale/gunk on brasswork in cold water tank

morg_monster

I was about to go up to the loft and have another good look at it, but when I went to turn the stopcock off I could not turn it at all to close it off. So will see if husband is strong enough, but otherwise looks like we might need the plumber either way. Not sure where the outside stopcock is, might need to ask the neighbours.

keystone

You should find that there is a valve on the rising main (probably in the airing cupboard or adjacent to the tank itself) to allow you to isolate the supply to the loft tank without turning off the water to the rest of the property. Thats the best one to use.

Cheers

southcoastrgi

morg_monster wrote: »

I was about to go up to the loft and have another good look at it, but when I went to turn the stopcock off I could not turn it at all to close it off. So will see if husband is strong enough, but otherwise looks like we might need the plumber either way. Not sure where the outside stopcock is, might need to ask the neighbours.

As KS said, plus all float operated valves should have an isolation valve (ballofix) so you can just switch off that valve, again you can diy if you want or as you will be paying for an hrs labour (unless you have a good plumber like KS said about existing customers) then get the plumber to fit one at the same time.

it's normally just outside your bondary on the pavement, unless it's a new one it will prob be full of mud etc if it is then phone your local water co & tell them you need to turn it off & you can't due to it being filled up & they will send someone out foc to clean it out & make sure it operates correctly, your external stoptap belongs to the water board so it is their responsibility to make sure it is accessible & working.

morg_monster

thanks - our water meter is in the pavement just outside the boundary. is it in / near there? (realise this is a stoopid question but I can't remember what it looks like in there ...)
Going to look for the valve KS mentioned now. Another stupid question, will it look like a tap? (like the stopcock?).
This is probably why I will get a plumber to do this :-) but I will do a bit more investigating first.

morg_monster

I remember keystone from another post I've just realised, just after we moved into our house and I couldn't get hot water flowing into our bathroom radiator, I posted some photos on here and you gave some great advice.
Still couldn't get it hot so called a plumber but he couldn't come for a few days, did a bit of jiggling with a screwdriver and hey presto it got hot. Can't turn it off now mind, but never need to, as we always want that radiator on whenever the heating is on, so it's all good...

southcoastrgi

yes thats it if you have a fairly new meter it will be a 1/4 turn key affair, there should be a key in there for you to use.

southcoastrgi

morg_monster wrote: »

I remember keystone from another post and you gave some great advice

Oh don't tell him that, his head is big enough already

keystone

Tank isolator might be a gate valve. Looks like this:



Cheers

keystone

morg_monster wrote: »

I remember keystone from another post I've just realised, .

Crikey you've got a better memory than me. Thank you.

southcoastrgi wrote: »

Oh don't tell him that, his head is big enough already

Cheers

T_T_2

keystone wrote: »

Tank isolator might be a gate valve. Looks like this:



Cheers

And if you are having a job turning it then there is a good chance the shaft is going to break. If it turns really easily but to no effect... the shaft has already broken! Bloody things are a nightmare. If you do have one of these fitted and you've got any of the hypothetical plumbers hour left (which we seem to be quickly eating into!) then it would be worth getting this swapped over to a QT lever valve.