Leaking hot water pipe. Urgent advice please.

xxdeebeexx

Hi the pipe underneath the kitchen sink has sprung a leak at the washing machine cut in place.

I heard dripping and saw it leaking from the hot water pipe and turned the tap to stop it and the tap came off in my hand leaving a gaping hole in the pipe.

I was drenched.... water everywhere... and DH has left for work and is on the road to Manchester from London.

Luckily the water had only just started to heat up so I wasn't scalded.

DS2 was home and put his thumb over the hole while I turned off the cold water feed to the hot water tank.

Am I now safe ?

I have turned off the cold water feed to the hot water tank.
I have drained the pipes by turning on the hot water taps.
I have turned off the boiler functions so no water will be heated.
I have pulled out the washing machine and gas cooker to mop up excess water,

I was thinking of bringing down the dehumidifier

Do I need to do anything else?
Do I need an emergency plumber or can things wait until morning?

(I have only just renewed home insurance and turned down cover for emergency call outs!!!)

Any help would be fab...
Feeling a bit vulnerable ....

tia

dx

southcoastrgi

if you have stopped the water then you are fine overnight you just won't have any hot water, if your OH can't repair it & you can wait it will be cheaper to get someone out on monday & especially if you phone them tomorrow so they can book it in rather than a callout

Myser

Those valves that cut into an existing pipe without stopping the water supply are known to leak!

It's best to replace the valve with a proper compression/solder fitting.

Also, where do I get a glossary to all the acronyms you used!

DH
DS2
dx

xxdeebeexx

southcoastrgi wrote: »

if you have stopped the water then you are fine overnight you just won't have any hot water, if your OH can't repair it & you can wait it will be cheaper to get someone out on monday & especially if you phone them tomorrow so they can book it in rather than a callout

Myser wrote: »

Those valves that cut into an existing pipe without stopping the water supply are known to leak!

It's best to replace the valve with a proper compression/solder fitting.

Also, where do I get a glossary to all the acronyms you used!

DH
DS2
dx

Thank you both for your replies....

I felt worried since my Dear Husband won't be home until tomorrow morning...

Thankfully I haven't had any further leaks.

Unfortunately my Dear 2nd Son will have to miss out on his bath this evening

Myser, would it work if I replaced the washing machine valve/ tap thingy with a new one in the same place?

thanks in advance


dx (xxdeebeexx)

keystone

You need to remove the dreadful self cutting tap. Then cut enough off the pipe to enable you to fit one of these (couple of quid):



thus joining the two pieces of pipe together. Connect your w/m hose to the 3/4 in threaded connection. Job done.

Do it whilst the water is still off of course.

'Bout 10 minutes work but then you have to refeill the system.

Cheers

xxdeebeexx

keystone wrote: »

You need to remove the dreadful self cutting tap. Then cut enough off the pipe to enable you to fit one of these (couple of quid):



thus joining the two pieces of pipe together. Connect your w/m hose to the 3/4 in threaded connection. Job done.

Do it whilst the water is still off of course.

'Bout 10 minutes work but then you have to refeill the system.

Cheers

Ah, thanks.

We don't actually need the hose as it was the hot water fill and our new washing machine only accepts cold water.

Is it difficult to refill the system?

thanks

dx

keystone

xxdeebeexx wrote: »

Ah, thanks.

We don't actually need the hose as it was the hot water fill and our new washing machine only accepts cold water.

Is it difficult to refill the system?

thanks

dx

In which case just use one of these:



to join the two lengths of pipe together but you must still cut out that bit of the pipe that the self cutting tap penetrated. You could use a pushfit rather than compression if you want.

No its not difficult at all. Make your joint up, open up the feed to the cylinder, open up some taps as the cylinder is filling to let the air out of the pipework. You shouldn't get any airlocks.

Cheers

xxdeebeexx

keystone wrote: »

In which case just use one of these:



to join the two lengths of pipe together but you must still cut out that bit of the pipe that the self cutting tap penetrated. You could use a pushfit rather than compression if you want.

No its not difficult at all. Make your joint up, open up the feed to the cylinder, open up some taps as the cylinder is filling to let the air out of the pipework. You shouldn't get any airlocks.

Cheers

OK, thank you.

Now I'm thinking a bit further ahead.

Is there a joint, type thing, that has a tap on it so that we can turn the water off, at the pipe, if we want to change the washers?
(I'm not sure if that makes sense)

tia

dx

keystone

Yes use an isolating valve (preferably a full bore one).



in place of the coupler.

Cheers

xxdeebeexx

keystone wrote: »

Yes use an isolating valve (preferably a full bore one).



in place of the coupler.

Cheers

Ha Ha Ha ......:D

Perfect! Thank you

May as well make an improvement rather than just a repair!

brilliant.....

Just hope I can sleep now and not have to keep popping downstairs to peer into the cupboard under the sink.

I just hope that the dog will let me know if the place starts flooding.

thanks for the help and the correct terminology (always useful when asking for things at the plumbers)

dx