What should I do with the leaking main stopcock and that plumber ?

stopcockleaking2310

What should I do with the leaking and that plumber ?

I have a leaking main stopcock.

I called a plumber and no reply so I texted him during a four day period.

Suddenly he phoned me late night and say he would pop in to have a look without call-in fee.

He turned up with 5 minutes in casual wear with new sneaker, no tools.

I ask him the plan… Do we need to change the main stopcock once for all (I forget to mention before the leaking, the tap is very loose and could not completely turn off the water incoming –sorry after 4 days hourly wipe floors and sleep deprivation, I completely loss it or mention just to change the top bits –learnt more later at You Tube)

He not really into it make it sound a hugh project. Eventually he mention might over £200.

Then he asked me for a wrench and then tighter the nuts saying it should work.

He claimed that sometimes the nut just loose itself. After a while, he asked for £20 for it and claimed that it’s OK (at that time, it looked OK to me).

(In reality £20 means a lot to me, I now blame myself for being so stupid. It is fate, I just took out £20 cash on that day for council bills)

He just been at my kitchen for less than 15 minutes (a few minutes, I walked him outside for a few yards asking him to identify which manhole related to my house (we have more than 5 outside within yards to my house).

I then research you tube he should just use thread and change washer instead he opt just doing that.

Then next morning, I texted him again and later he texted back claiming that is condensation, should contact him later if needed and he would give me a quote.

lately I tighten the little one just under the stopcock tape and now the water is seeping little but dropping as it used to be to sweeping the kitchen and lounge.



Before him turned up, I had rung another 2 plumber but no reply. I asked neighbors any recommendation but they don’t know any.

So after all of these, should I call him to fix it?


After learning from You Tube, I would even think doing it myself but I worry I might now loose the nuts on my skills (a 20 years old type). I now know how to turn off the main outside. I just worry if I could not complete the job. I would have to turn off the outside mains for longer period as emergency steps. I won't dare to shut down others water supply like that.

At the same time, it really looks very easy just un-tighten/tighten bolts.

My intention is just change the washer top bits (just one old bolts then 2 old blots with the pipe).



I bought a new standard 15mm one at high street. But then I roughly measured the two : mine is roughly 10.8cm (4 1/8 inches) and the new one is 9cm (3.5inches).

just find out new member is not allowed to post link to my picture, if possible please watch here
s1151.photobucket.com/user/mkys/media/DSCF0591-compare.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0

many thanks.

Any idea where could I find the right size?


And any idea how to handle the ‘old nuts’?

Please any suggestion is much welcome.

SailorSam

Hi Op, your post is a bit confusing. But it's not difficult to fit a new stopcook as i'm sure you know if you've checked on YouTube. If you can't identify which main in the street is yours all you can do is turn them off one-by-one to see which cuts the water to your house, but let your neighbours know what you're about to do in case theirs goes off. If there's over 5 main stops the chances are that you don't share, which is a good thing. Once the water is off remove the old stopcook, unless it's a very old house it's probably 15mm or half inch, so you should get away with leaving the old nuts in place and just using the body of your new stopcock. If you go the plumbers shop don't forget to get a roll of Ptfe tape.

Before starting to renew the stopcock just see can you get away with putting Ptfe tape on the joints.

Mr_Ted

:eek:Just seen photo's:eek:

:(YOU NEED A PLUMBER:o

That stopcock and pipework is very old and in poor condition and you will probably get yourself in big problems if you try it yourself :eek:

If you call in a plumber you must expect to pay the going rate and it is unadvisdable to dictate what is needed as the condition of the existing may mean more than just to change the stopcock:)

mart.vader

Do you rent the house ? or own it ?

If you rent, then your Landlord should be dealing with and paying for this. If you own the house, it's your problem, BUT unless you are confident with your plumbing ability, (and it doesn't sound as if you are) then, what Mr Ted said above is probably right. I've never seen a stopcock like that. - It looks to be soldered straight onto the pipe without any nuts.

If you don't like that plumber, choose another one - there are plenty around.

stopcockleaking2310

thanks to Dear SailorSam, Mr Ted and mart.vader

for all the great advice.


At last, I get the information from the water company and now know where is the main outside stopcock.


More update, I bought a new wrentch and twist the nut a bit and turn up the water volume more, and now it's just a little little wet (not dipping). I now put more and tighter tape on the joint.



I found it I completely shut it (but the stopcock still let water in), the dipping became worse.


I hope this work longer so I could have more time to save money and find a proper plumber this time during the summer period.


thanks for all your great help.

stopcockleaking2310

Mr_Ted wrote: »

:eek:Just seen photo's:eek:

:(YOU NEED A PLUMBER:o

That stopcock and pipework is very old and in poor condition and you will probably get yourself in big problems if you try it yourself :eek:

If you call in a plumber you must expect to pay the going rate and it is unadvisdable to dictate what is needed as the condition of the existing may mean more than just to change the stopcock:)

HI, thanks for all your time looking at the pictures.

I don't think my old stopcock is 15mm (as standard),do you think it's 22mm or 28mm ( I see these size stopcock-stocks at online shops) ?

I really want to know so when a new plumber turn up I know if he/she would be properly skilled not scam me just like the last time.

thanks in advance.

mart.vader

Hi, OP,

Good to see that your grammar has improved since your earlier posts.

If you really can't tell the difference between a 15mm and a 22mm stopcock - you need a plumber.

southcoastrgi

I can't keep up with this there are about 400 threads from the same OP about the same thing, is the OP taking over the world :rotfl:

macman

If you only paid £20 for a call out, then it wasn't a very good scam. You'll typically pay two or three times that.