Is there a gadget/invention that lets you fit a new Water stop tap while Water is on?

lancslass2008

Hi all


This is for my work colleague who tells me "My hubby is going round the bend because he wants to fit a new Kitchen but the stop tap is seized and jammed solid. No matter how much force he puts on it won't twist. Any more force and he knows he will snap it and cause a major leak. He has looked around for a way to fit a new stop tap while the Water is on but can't find anything"


Does anybody have a suggestion?


Apparently they have contacted United Utilities who won't tell them where the outside Water isolation valve is (so they can cut the pipe and install a new stop tap). My friend tells me "United Utilities just won't help. They say it's on my property so it's not their problem, yet they refuse to divulge where the outside isolation valve is because they say turning this off will temporary cut the supply to the rest of the Houses on the row of houses.


Any suggestions please?

roddydogs

Plumbers have a freezing spray, weather that gives enough time to fit or loosen a stop tap I dont know. All the houses ive had have had a separate stop tap outside, much easier with a meter as that incorporates a tap.

SailorSam

Try putting heat on the stop-tap you've got now. Wih a blow torch.

C_Mababejive

Remember.. the only thing that stands between the local reservoir and afew bars of pressure and your house is that valve!

Do you really want to play with it? If it goes horribly wrong, will your insurance pay up?

What will you do if it shears off and floods the house? Who will you call?

Ive seen it happen,,,before you can get to the phone, your house will be decimated.

Get a decent plumber in who has the skills experiences and insurance to deal with it.

smudger1964

Here is a link to what you need to get http://www.screwfix.com/p/pipe-freezing-kit-220ml/13369

here is a youtube video showing you the process https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrPwz6NQbGc

westy22

smudger1964 wrote: »

Here is a link to what you need to get http://www.screwfix.com/p/pipe-freezing-kit-220ml/13369

here is a youtube video showing you the process https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrPwz6NQbGc

The OP will need the confidence and faith that he can successfully remove the old stop-!!!! and refit the new one within the 35 minutes estimated by the manufacturers. Good luck with that!

Gordon_Hose

I'd be onto a decent plumber. If it goes wrong you'll have a house full of water with no way to stop it.

DTDfanBoy

Find the outside valve and use that to isolate the supply.

While it's convenient to have a stopcock inside the property as your friend has found out they are completely pointless if seized. One of my first jobs when moving into a new property, is to locate both valves and confirm they both work

Mankysteve

As above use your outside stop tap.

roddydogs

Hes already said he cant use the outside stopcock!!
Tip-never open the stop !!!! fully, and test it every year or so, when its finally sorted.

peachyprice

Mankysteve wrote: »

As above use your outside stop tap.

Not all houses have them.

We have a communal one that turns the water off to 8 houses that has to be operated by the water board.

OP, tell your colleague to get it dome properly, having had a stop tap go I can tell you it's no fun having the whole ground floor carpet/flooring replaced and that was just a relatively slow leak over a few hours.