!!!! stop not working!

Adly812

Just realised, when I switch off my mains water stop tap cockstop !!! (cold mains inlet supply) it's not turning off fully.. I noticed this with a drip drip leak out my bath tap. I changed the mixers(it stopped the drip) a year later my flush valve in loo malfunctioned, so I shut off the water and it's a very small leak as it never filled up my cistern quick enough for me to change the inlet toilet valve. Now the new inlet toilet valve is not holding up. So I've isolated the toilet water, switching that off. But now when I turn on my bath tap (open ) whilst the mains supply is off (water comes still out the tap)
I'm concerned as I'm away for a few days ... If I leave my cockstop closed, leave all taps closed. Toilets water supply off... Will a pressure build up in my pipes,? As the !!!! stop is obviously letting water in still.... or will the fact now it's not got an escape out the toilet because I've isolated and closed off toilet water... Will it maybe find another weak gap in my pipes and leak out from there?? This must have been going on for years, but the fact I was away from home and not using water etc , I'm noticing the leak as its built up ?

MisterP123

The fact your cockstop is passing doesn't mean your pipework is leaking. Your pipework should be able to withstand mains pressure quite easily, otherwise you'd be springing leaks left right and centre.

In the future, if you're working on something and the valve is passing open another tap lower in the system. Alternatively, shut it off at the street if you have access.

patman99

Good advice offered by MisterP123. Buy a new stop valve, turn off water main stop valve in Street, then repair the original stop valve.

Sounds like it needs to be taken apart, cleaned and a new set of washers installed.

Whilst the water is off, install some service valves for the bath,. Basin, and toilet.

Adly812

Thank you both. So the fact it's off now but still allows a drip through the bath taps means its not fully closing at the cockstop mains?? Is that right..
But why did it leak through to my toilet causing the inlet valve to malfunction.. Twice ??
Provided the cockstop should remain on all the time,.. What's the dilemma if I didn't fix it.. Because surely if all my washers are working and taps arent leaking... Then the problem has only been evident by my toilet leaking .. And the cistern continuously overflowing ??? Valve not stopping it.. Would the pressure be too much for the valve to withstand ? Don't get it

MisterP123

It's common for stopcocks to fail. They are open 99.9999% of their lives. It's usually as soon as they are disturbed that problems are discovered. They pass water through, they'll leak from the union etc etc.

Anything else in the system is separate, if you have a leak elsewhere, it isn't caused by shutting off the water supply.

If you've had a failure twice, it's either unlucky or bad workmanship.

Adly812

Thank you, think the valve is just faulty . It's a wickes plastic fluid master valve.. But slightly odd as its new and shouldn't fault. But maybe the toilet is just badly put in, as I have a lime scale build up from water drizzling into the pan.. So possibly didn't no about it for ages .. But just so weird the new valve is not withstanding? I've shut off my water to the loo. Provided I have no other Leaks elsewhere, is it safe to think that the water sitting in the pipes won't build pressure and just sit there until I turn them back on... Not suddenly come home to burst mains/pipes leaking under the bath /ground .. I'm petrified the pressure system is screwed

MisterP123

Your system will pressurise to mains pressure right up until it is stopped, usually at your taps. It should sit there quite happily contained.

You have mains water pressure throughout your house to every valve; whether that be a tap, shower, solenoid valve on your american fridge freezer, washing machine, dishwasher. Etc. Or even the ball !!!! on your toilet.

The toilet is probably the most problematic, hence the fact you have an overflow on them..... Usually

Adly812

Thank you. I must have driven back n forth every few hours to check on my home. I'm staying 30 min away. But can't relax, as I turned off the !!!! stop. Toilet filled and went down the over flow pipe.valve stopped working, then I only saw this x3 days later returning, drained it and it did it again last night. Today after tampering and guessing why the cistern was filling with the mains off I discovered the stopcock is not shutting off fully, so I turned the toilet water off by the floor at the screw turn. Which after 6 hours when I rechecke..seemed to stop the filling cistern .. But I'm just concerned there might be another leak, somewhere I don't know about, which might be the new escape, since it can't get through out to the loo?? (I don't need to mention I worry a lot)

London50

As you have now "solved" the cistern problem to some extent you now only have your taps and combi boiler system that has any water in them.
Just think...... before the cistern problem the water was in ALL your pipes and have been for years without any leaks/exploding pipes or joints so there is NO CHANCE of them suddenly erupting like a fountain {or even slightly leaking out from anywhere}.
Depending on the age of your home the pipes would either be lead/copper or high grade plastic. If lead the joints are soldered and would be stronger than the lead pipe. If copper the joints are either once again soldered or have a nut/olive connection {the olive is squashed onto the copper pipe } and forms a water tight seal that unless there was movement it the building cannot fail. If it is plastic pipe the joints are glued with a solvent that melts the two together.
In my years working in the builders merchants trade during the 50's and 60's I sold all types of pluming goods to the builders {copper/lead/plastic pipe and joints} and NEVER had anyone come back to say that there was any problems with leaks.
PLEASE stop worrying Nothing is going to happen and once you get to the bottom of your cistern valve problem your property with be as water tight as the ducks you know what :0)

Adly812

Thank you so much! You've put my mind at ease !! I'm going to try figure out the toilet issue as obviously it's going to continue with the mains switched back on as it is? Bewildering x2 valves are just not holding up ?! I'm going to guess the person who installed the loo has not done it right Or the loo itself is manufactured badly I dono

Adly812

Home converted into flats in 2003. They used to be old storage for hops. Originally Oast houses.