Removed kitchen sink but didn't cap pipes...

[Deleted User]

Yesterday in a moment of lockdown excitability/mania I removed the kitchen sink and the surrounding section of worktop.  The idea being to do this bit myself to save money before a tradesman fits the replacement.  I live alone in London in a Victorian conversion.

I was able to turn off the mixer tap using the isolation valves on the copper pipes.  I also disconnected the washing machine.

Really I should have waited till I had copper caps to screw over the heads of each pipe.  I also wrecked the tap when I removed it from the sink.

I had an email from my neighbour in the downstairs flat in the night that he could hear "oscillating" noises coming from my flat.

I'd wrapped a tea towel around the top of the tap pipes and I've noticed it gets damp - though not so much that there's a puddle on the floor.  Clearly some water is still being forced up through the valve.

For now I've turned off the combi boiler.  Obviously I need to just order the caps from B&Q, they're a couple of quid.

But my question is, is there a risk that the valves will blow from the pressure of the mains cold water continually pushing up against them?  

What was likely to have been the noise my neighbour heard, maybe my actions have done something to the water pressure?

Should I try switching off the water supply to my flat at street level until I've properly capped the pipes, or else is this whole thing going to blow up like a geyser?

Thanks for reading/helping!

TELLIT01

There will be a stop tap somewhere in the flat and it's that which needs to be turned off.  There shouldn't be any need to turn it off at street level.

[Deleted User]

Thanks for your reply. The stop tap is nowhere visible.  Maybe it's behind the kitchen unit below the boiler, or behind the bath panel.   But the kitchen pipes come straight up through the floorboards.  

I can hear a trickling sound that I don't think I could hear 24 hours ago.  Unfortunately I'm partially deaf so I can't tell where it's coming from.   

grumbler

Poster_586329 said:

But my question is, is there a risk that the valves will blow from the pressure of the mains cold water continually pushing up against them? 

No. For them the pressure doesn't change if you close them.

[Deleted User]

Thanks, grumbler.  Maybe the right hand one is leaking from the top because it's not quite turned to the horizontal - could that be all this is?  Though it still doesn't explain my neighbour hearing noises...

[Deleted User]

Photos..

[Deleted User]

Green cloth is dry but pink is wet through.

[Deleted User]

Should I turn the boiler back on, is that unlikely to be related?  It's at 2 bar pressure.

GDB2222

The boiler is on its own closed circuit for heating. Do you have a combi or a water cylinder?

I would try to get both in line valves a bit more horizontal, but any minor dribbles would be silent. No idea what the noise was your neighbour heard. Perhaps you should invite him in to have a listen.

I'd strongly suggest getting the stop ends straight away, if only for peace of mind.  You don’t show the pipe ends, but push fit may be fine.  If you still have olives and compression nuts on the pipe then go for compression stop ends. These are normally in stock right now at any plumbers merchant, Screwfix or toolstation.

[Deleted User]

Thanks, GB2222, that's very helpful!  Yes I'll get the caps in the next couple of days.  It's a Sime Friendly E boiler.  I'll see what happens when I turn it back on later....

grumbler

You don't need the caps, but you can possibly use this opportunity to replace the valves.

Meanwhile use a longer strip of cloth for the leaking one and put one end of the strip to a bucket/jar/bowl lower nearby. It will collect the leaking water.