Stop tap

Any

Hi,
We had major house renovations done, living on a bit of a building site stil😂😂
But.. while doing it, leaking stop tap was discovered. The plumber was at it twice, and it is still weeping a bit.. he said that we have very high pressure, like 7 bar.
Also old pipe coming into the house, so he cannot change it. He cannot weld on it apparently.he keeps repairing it. Now it is down to just a bit wet to the touch, I wiped it last night and now it is wet to the touch again.
He changed the washers and stuff, but it is still the old tap.
He says there is not much more he can do.. do I just have to live with it?
It is quite a tight space too, which doesn't help. Small window in a wall.
Do I need better plumber? Have you seen that before?
It drives me mad, we had majore leaks before and now I might be a bit oversensitive to any damp feel😕

[Deleted User]

I assume you mean it's weeping around the spindle, in which case it's the gland that needs tightening or repacking, not the washer replacing. If you live in a hard water area you will probably find that the leak will seal itself with lime scale in a few weeks, but the problem with that is when you need to use the tap in a hurry it's likely to jam solid. I've just replaced my stop tap last Sunday because it was jammed and wouldn't turn off.

Any

Thanks. I wasn't here when he did it, it was my OH but I was led to believe he replaced all bits that could be, but the actual whole thing itself.
It is a very old house and stop tap, never had it completely ceased yet.
I did say can we change the whole thing and he said he cannot as he cannot weld it.

Ruski

If he's talking about welding it then I assume it is a lead pipe that needs sweating - a dying skill. You can however buy lead to copper connectors and that will allow you to go from 'old to new' and install a new stopcock

Unless I've read the info wrong that is!!

HTH

Russ

Wookey

If it's a lead pipe you probably need a plumber over the age of 50, i would be considering removing the lead piping altogether and replacing it out to the road stopcock or at least to outside of the house. Lead is toxic and if you don't replace it you should be looking at a suitable water filter on your drinking water that is suitable for removing as much lead as possible.

Chanes

We had a weeping stop tap and as mentioned it was from the gland nut we had a plumber out to it twice and the second time he packed it with PTFE tightened it and it has been bone dry ever since. This type of weeping is quite common and an experienced plumber knows how to fix it.

I think it is likely the other folks are right, this is the pipework itself that has the leak. If that pipework is lead you should replace it anyway and it may be that taking the work on the remedy this is you wisest option, the cost and inconvenience would give you a good fix.

Jackmydad

Ruski wrote: »

If he's talking about welding it then I assume it is a lead pipe that needs sweating - a dying skill. You can however buy lead to copper connectors and that will allow you to go from 'old to new' and install a new stopcock

Unless I've read the info wrong that is!!

HTH

Russ

One brand is called "LeadLoc" (no connection to me)
Haven't used one, but they work well apparently.

Any

Replacing all of it would involve digging a massive hole outside and in the road. Big job��

Kernel_Sanders

Any wrote: »

Replacing all of it would involve digging a massive hole outside and in the road. Big job��

Not to mention the task of removing the lead pipe from it's channel and trying to thread a plastic one in its place. I have a lead pipe which is under a solid floor for about 20 feet of its length, and unless it was laid perfectly straight I can't see it being possible without digging up the whole floor.

andyhop

Plasson also do universals adapters

Wiping lead is illegal

Leadlocks , while they work I've seen many poorly fitted and not tightened sufficiently .

barnaclebill

We had this when we moved in, the previous owners closed the stop valve but it was passing when they removed their washing machine.
Lucky my plumber was there installing a new shower, he fitted a second stop valve after the old one as the gland was leaking on the old one as well as not holding, he then tightened the gland on the old one until no leak but so tight it could not be turned hence the need for the second stop valve which works well with no leaks, the old valve is just locked in the open position and dry at the gland.