Easier stopcock use

jamesd

For a person who has pain when kneeling and difficulty returning from kneeling to standing is there anything that can make it easier to use a water stopcock at the back wall under a sink, without plumbing work?

The place will be refurbished in a while so as part of refurbishment work what can be done then besides trying to put it in a more readily accessible place?

Besides that are there any drawbacks to lots of smaller valves on the flow lines to the individual fittings to make it easier to isolate them individually rather than the whole place? Any suggestions again for easy access, rather than a turning strength issue?

Myser

Have a look at the SureStop:

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

The isolation switch can be fitted somewhere convenient such as above a kitchen worktop.

There are pushfit valves available to make it easier to fit.

MisterBaxter

Second the use of SureStop device. I've used them a lot in Social Housing especially where there are elderly or disabled tenants, also fitted one for my mom and one in my own house. As simple as turning a light switch on and off. Couldn't be easier to install either providin the existing stop tap is working.

I would still use isolation valves on individual appliances as well so that you can work on them in the future without having to turn everything off each time.

Owain_Moneysaver

you can also use lever valves rather than stopcocks. They're easier to turn.

southcoastrgi

You have already been given excellent advice in posts # 2&3

PasturesNew

... apart from the fact they do tend to be in inaccessible places, how come they also always look so scarey/gnarly and nasty ....?


Anybody watching Grand Designs? I just turned over - bloke digging a cave out by hand.....

I've got the patio doors wide open for awhile, it's really hot tonight - but breezy outside, so just doing a change of air. I might be hot as I lobbed some mince, butter beans, baked beans and splashes of stuff into the SC and had that for tea. Nice hot savoury mince Served with a dollop of instant mash. Eaten with a fork from a bowl. Proper peasant

jamesd

Thanks! A one metre stopcock key to make it easier to use the current stopcock and because it'll be desirable to have anyway for the outside one, plus one or more Surestop valves plus isolation valves for all appliances it is.

Daydreaming about one Surestop each for: whole place, kitchen cold, bathroom cold, hot water, outside tap. Since just about all kitchen plumbing and the hot water sources are being changed along with a bathroom refurbishment the add-on cost for fitting this stuff isn't likely to matter much.

27col

I've worked in a house with a Surestop fitted. The cupboard that had the stop !!!! in it was so full that it would have taken 30 minutes to get at it. But with the Surestop mounted above the worktop. Easy peasy to isolate the water. I wish they had been available when I built my house.

saverbuyer

I think I've turned a stopcock once in my life. I'm intrigued to know why someone would need a super easy to use one? Is it worth the cost vs reward?

GwylimT

saverbuyer wrote: »

I think I've turned a stopcock once in my life. I'm intrigued to know why someone would need a super easy to use one? Is it worth the cost vs reward?

Old stopcocks quite commonly snap while being turned.

MisterBaxter

saverbuyer wrote: »

I think I've turned a stopcock once in my life. I'm intrigued to know why someone would need a super easy to use one? Is it worth the cost vs reward?

You will stop asking yourself that one time you do need access and realise you can't readily turn the water off. Besides it never hurts to be able to turn the water off if you need to. They aren't that expensive either. If your stop tap is easily accessible and you try it every now and then to make sure it hasn't seized then I wouldn't bother it's just the inaccessible nature of stop taps and the fact that so few people actually test them.