Stopcock - stops hot only ?

lizalexander

I've just done a stopcock check (first one) to check where the water turns off. I turned on all the taps upstairs and downstairs - and then turned off the stopcock (stopcock under kitchen sink) - the stopcock turned off all the hot water (up & down) but left the cold water (up & down) on.
My house (terraced) has a combi boiler.
We have not ventured into the loft yet.
There is also what looks like an old out of use hot water tank in a cupboard upstairs - there is a red wheel valve visible on the side of the tank. (haven't turned this yet as a bit nervous of what might happen!!) This tank is partially covered up by some mdf sheets with a hole cut out that shows the red wheel valve.
I cannot see any other stopcocks anywhere.
Would anyone have any ideas of how I can turn the water completely off ?
Thanks

elsien

How long have you left the taps running? Just wondering if the water tank is still connected, so still emptying?

lizalexander

I left them running about 5 minutes. The hot turned off instantly with the stopcock but the cold was still running.
Thanks

Le_Kirk

If you have a combi boiler this would explain why the hot stopped straight away as combi boilers are mains fed. If you are talking about the upstairs cold taps, they are normally fed from a cold water tank in your loft. What about your kitchen, if you turn off your stopcock does the kitchen cold water tap still have water or not? It seems like your old system (hot water cylinder) is still there although out of use, being replaced by the combi boiler. Without seeing your house it is difficult to add any more suggestions.

lizalexander

Thanks - cold water supply still runs downstairs and upstairs, even though the stopcock is turned to off under the kitchen sink.

Le_Kirk

You must have an unusual situation then, with kitchen water fed off cold water tank. Most kitchen cold taps are fed off mains. Did you turn off the stopcock fully, they can be stiff. Check your pipe run in the kitchen, does your main pipe (the one with the stopcock on it) go ONLY upstairs after the stopcock or is there a tee off the kitchen cold tap.

lizalexander

ok - just had a good root around under the kitchen sink.
Stopcock did have a bit further to turn @(Thanks Le Kirk) - so I have now worked out that the stopcock under the kitchen sink turns off the hot & cold water in the kitchen (no other water downstairs) and the hot water upstairs.
Would anyone have any ideas where the cold water upstairs stopcock would be ? Due to the age of the bathroom fittings, there are no individual valves on the bath, sink or loo.
Thanks very much for your help - its much appreciated

wymondham

is there a cold water tank in the attic that feeds the cold water taps ... I know it shouldn't but it might??

molerat

Downstairs cold and combi supplying hot will be fed from the mains. Upstairs cold will be fed from the old tank in the loft just as it always was.

lizalexander

I'll check that - just need to get hold of a ladder ..... Thanks for your help

southcoastrgi

molerat wrote: »

Downstairs cold and combi supplying hot will be fed from the mains. Upstairs cold will be fed from the old tank in the loft just as it always was.

No it shouldn't be, when doing a open vented to combi swap the plumbing should be changed so all cold is on the mains & the roof tanks disconnected