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Water isolation valve on each floor?

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My house is  being renovated which includes completely new water pipe plumbing.

Is there any reason why not to ask the builder to add a water isolation valve for both hot and cold water in every floor (ground, 1st floor and loft)? The rationale is that at this stage it would be almost no extra effort and very little cost, but if there's ever a water leak on one floor then I could isolate that floor while still using the water for the rest of the house.

I will be having a system boiler with a hot water storage tank.

Thoughts?
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Comments

  • adonis
    adonis Posts: 1,072 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    You should have an isolation valve fitted for each tap, toilet, shower etc as good practice which should be enough for your needs.
    Make sure they are good quality valves.
  • tallac
    tallac Posts: 416 Forumite
    Fourth Anniversary 100 Posts Name Dropper
    adonis said:
    You should have an isolation valve fitted for each tap, toilet, shower etc as good practice which should be enough for your needs.
    Make sure they are good quality valves.
    Is it worth having a valve for each floor too? I'm not sure how water piping works if there is a single pipe for each floor which then go to all the taps for that floor or if each tap has their own pipe that comes from the ground floor directly.

    If there is a single pipe from ground to service all the floor's taps, then having a valve on that pipe could be useful in case there is a leak along that pipe. I can't really picture how the pipe network will be so not sure.

    Also, what makes a good quality valve? Is it a particular brand or a valve type? I was thinking of a valve that has a decent size lever like this so you could quickly isolate it if needed:

    Lever Ball Valve Red 15mm  Ball Valves  Screwfixcom
  • grumbler
    grumbler Posts: 58,629 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited 21 September 2020 at 8:50PM
    Extra valves will do no harm, but the one in your picture is, I guess, for bigger diameter pipes used for gravity fed systems (or, possibly, as the main stopcock) - 28mm I guess. If it's mains pressure, then you need 15mm, maximum 22mm - and such valves AFAIK have smaller lever, if any
    I cannot comment on the quality.

  • tallac
    tallac Posts: 416 Forumite
    Fourth Anniversary 100 Posts Name Dropper
    grumbler said:
    Extra valves will do no harm, but the one in your picture is, I guess, for bigger diameter pipes used for gravity fed systems (or, possibly, as the main stopcock) - 28mm I guess. If it's mains pressure, then you need 15mm, maximum 22mm - and such valves AFAIK have smaller lever, if any
    I cannot comment on the quality.

    Ah okay. Someone, advised against these types as they said the valve overtime seizes up and then the plastic lever then snaps when you try to use it. They suggested getting similar ones with metal levers. I'm not sure which way to go on them as I don't have enough personal experience with having to use them.
  • tacpot12
    tacpot12 Posts: 9,242 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Pegler and Altecnic are good brands for domestic valves. Ask the builder to supply either of these brands for all valves and you won't have many problems. 

    There is no reason not to have isolating valves where you want them; I think an isolating valve that cuts of the cold water supply to the loft that can be accessed without entering the loft is an excellent idea. Having a valve that would allow you to cut off the hot or cold supply to each floor does make some sense. 

    I would ask them to fit a Surestop stopcock where the water enters the house as well. This means you can turn off the cold water supply to the entire house at the flick of a switch. 
    The comments I post are my personal opinion. While I try to check everything is correct before posting, I can and do make mistakes, so always try to check official information sources before relying on my posts.
  • adonis said:
    You should have an isolation valve fitted for each tap, toilet, shower etc as good practice which should be enough for your needs.
    Make sure they are good quality valves.
    Spot on, everything is isolated now!
    Maybe, just once, someone will call me 'Sir' without adding, 'You're making a scene.'
  • tallac said:
    My house is  being renovated which includes completely new water pipe plumbing.

    Is there any reason why not to ask the builder to add a water isolation valve for both hot and cold water in every floor (ground, 1st floor and loft)? The rationale is that at this stage it would be almost no extra effort and very little cost, but if there's ever a water leak on one floor then I could isolate that floor while still using the water for the rest of the house.

    I will be having a system boiler with a hot water storage tank.

    Thoughts?
    Its rare for pipework to leak , it's much more common for fittings to leak hence you should have isolation valves fitted to each and for maintenance purposes

    Unless you have a MASSIVE house and are zoning everything , I wouldn't bother

    However I suspect you will do this anyway regardless of what people say 
  • airaeuro said:
    adonis said:
    You should have an isolation valve fitted for each tap, toilet, shower etc as good practice which should be enough for your needs.
    Make sure they are good quality valves.
    Spot on, everything is isolated now!
    Let see next. Basically we are ball valve manufacturer and it also used for control the flow of water. Visit our website www.airaindia.com where you will find various control valve for your operation.
    How about you learn English before you (poorly ) attempt to advertise your company?

    This is me being nice by the way (I was tempted not to be)
  • gamston
    gamston Posts: 693 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts
    I've fitted Full bore isolators in various locations around my house (2 bathrooms, kitchen, utility) just so if i have any probelms I can stop the water to just that room/area while repairing it ( as a Lad I was told make sure you can maintain it at a later date)
  • gamston said:
    I've fitted Full bore isolators in various locations around my house (2 bathrooms, kitchen, utility) just so if i have any probelms I can stop the water to just that room/area while repairing it ( as a Lad I was told make sure you can maintain it at a later date)
    Or just fit isolators to the various appliances/taps in your home . That way when one develops a leak/requires maintenance you only turn off the water to that appliance/tap not the entire floor/room lessening the inconvience impact on others 
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