Stopcock replacement

parkingadvice1212

I have a broken internal stopcock (can't be switched off) and the plumber I had round said there is no external stopcock - I also can't see anything in the road outside.
The plumber said I need to call Thames Water to get the supply switched off. I called them this morning and they made an appointment for Monday 8am-1pm. I can't get a plumber to come round at that time (and anyway I don't want to be paying a plumber £80/hr to sit around for 4 hours?!) so how does this normally work?
The plumber seemed to suggest Thames Water would be able to identify how to switch off the supply and then the plumber could come later and do it himself, is that correct?

Bendy_House

If there IS an external stopcock, then yes. TW should ID for you where it is, and the plumber can take over from there when he needs to.

If there ain't, then I dunno.

Almost certainly it's the former, tho'.

I take it you don't have a water meter?

parkingadvice1212

Bendy_House said:

If there IS an external stopcock, then yes. TW should ID for you where it is, and the plumber can take over from there when he needs to.

If there ain't, then I dunno.

Almost certainly it's the former, tho'.

I take it you don't have a water meter?

Hopefully its the former then. I don't have a water meter, no. It's also a shared supply (ex-council) so it's likely if we can switch it off it'll be for all my neighbours too..!

Bendy_House

Ah... Best you do know where it is, then!

For 'internal', I have a preference for full-bore lever valves which are fast-acting, but also much less prone to sticking or breaking. Perhaps have a word with your plumber before he comes out, in case he agrees and can take one with him?

This type of thing: https://www.screwfix.com/p/pegler-ball-valve-blue-22mm/18343

bris

There is an external stopcock, just indentifing it can sometimes be a problem.

it is often shared with other properties so might not be where a plumber would expect to find it.

The waterboard will identify it then when you know where it is a plumber turn it ioff at a time to suit you.

If it is shared then you will need to give a notice to the other residents, you might want to discuss that with the water board too as they will know the proper procedure for notifing them.

EssexExile

No one could find our external stopcock so the water company came and put a new one in. At our last house there was no external stopcock so the plumber froze the incoming pipe while he changed the internal one.

GDB2222

You really need a more knowledgeable plumber. Get him to fit one of these stop taps, which can be fitted without switching off the water:-

https://www.screwfix.com/p/aladdin-easyfit-isolator-starter-pack-15mm/36008


It's a really quick and easy job for any handyman to fit one of these. It takes 5 minutes to do.  The tap itself is expensive, at nearly £50, but it solves the problem.





 

rob7475

GDB2222 said:

You really need a more knowledgeable plumber. Get him to fit one of these stop taps, which can be fitted without switching off the water:-

https://www.screwfix.com/p/aladdin-easyfit-isolator-starter-pack-15mm/36008


It's a really quick and easy job for any handyman to fit one of these. It takes 5 minutes to do.  The tap itself is expensive, at nearly £50, but it solves the problem.



 

I wouldn't fancy fitting one of them in this situation. The original stop tap can't be turned off and they don't know where the external one is. If th aladdin doesn't seal properly, there's no way of turning the supply off. I'd say the plumber has been sensible in not proceeding until an external stop tap can be located