Lead pipes

catkins

Water co only liable to your stop !!!! beyond that is your responsibility. They will freeze pipe to fit new stop !!!! most likely.

plumb1_2

wimbleQ wrote: »

Are these really dangerous - must I replace them? Just broke at the mo so this is the last thing I need....

No they are not dangerous, they are so old that the inside is coated with loads of Limescale,. you will get more lead in your body by standing at the side of a road for 1 day. But you will get better water pressure.

wimbleQ wrote: »

Also why can't / won't water co turn off water in the road so they can fit a meter?

Your local water company should replace(or give a shut off) the stop tap in the path/street FOC, wether it be lead or plastic pipe, they have duty to do this. Just tell them that you have dripping taps ansd unable to turn off water supply. Dont take no for an answer, and dont pay.

Roseberry_2

Joannaclaire wrote: »

Hmmm 1,000k wouldn't be to-ooo bad in theory................

I'll do it for 1,000k this evening for you.

Cheers

andrew-b

I'd ask the water company if they will replace the pipe upto the stopc0ck for you. Just because it isn't their responsibility doesnt mean they wont do it if you pay.
My parents had their water pipe replaced from the road to their stopc0ck by Thames Water (well their subcontactors). As they had the right equipment they were able to use a mole and so avoided digging up the whole driveway - though they did have to drill a trench in the garage adjoining the house.
No idea what ..if anything..they paid though.

Andy

Bungarm2001

Have a look at this link to some info I downloaded from United Utilities.

They take care of this sort of thing for the North West and Midlands (I think!) I did have a link to the other water authorities but can't find it now, sorry peeps! A quick search on Google should find the one that takes care of your area, or failing that, just give UU a call and they'll give you the phone number.

We were going to replace the lead piping inside the house with HEP2o pipe, then call UU to do the last bit, but we ran out of time. We are lucky since the pipe runs under floorboards to the back room, so it is easy to replace.

You could always just bypass the lead piping that is buried in concrete...I do believe there are no hard and fast rules about digging it all up and putting a new pipe in exactly the same place. As long as it is deep enough outside not to freeze over, then you should be okay. Obviously check the regulations first.

wimbleQ

Hello Plumb1

Thx for your advice.

plumb1 wrote: »

No they are not dangerous, they are so old that the inside is coated with loads of Limescale,. you will get more lead in your body by standing at the side of a road for 1 day. But you will get better water pressure.


Your local water company should replace(or give a shut off) the stop tap in the path/street FOC, wether it be lead or plastic pipe, they have duty to do this. Just tell them that you have dripping taps ansd unable to turn off water supply. Dont take no for an answer, and dont pay.

Maybe I didn't explain properly. What waterco tell me is I have a shared supply (terraced house). I've asked for a meter. They came out to have a look and said my stop tap INSIDE the house (under sink) doesn't turn (it's jammed as v. old, maybe lead?).

Waterco say they can't / won't fit water meter because my stoptap inside doesn't work and they need to turn off water.

I guess I don't understand how they can't turn off the water from outside to fit the meter - they're the waterco after all?!?

Does anyone know what my rights here are? Moved in recently and have so many bills I was looking at the water meter to bring water costs down but not if I have to spend a fortune getting a stoptap fixed/replaced.

Anyway wouldn't plumber need water off to do something with stoptap anyway?

Ta muchly for advice on this.

vaio

These is a clever bit of kit that plumbers use which freezes the pipe up-stream of the stopcock. They can then replace the stopcock and have a cup of tea whilst waiting for the pipe to defrost.

I suspect that the meter fitters didn’t have a freeze kit so if you get the stopcock replaced then the meter fitters can come back and do their job. Obviously this only applies if you are happy with water flow & pressure and using a common supply.

wimbleQ

Hi,

Thanks Vaio for your reply. That sounds like a handy gadget wish I could get my hands on one of those and try it meself!!

Actually the water pressure isn't very good but I'm guessing there's nothing to be done about that as it's a shared supply?

Do you (or does anyone else) have an idea of costs for replacing the jammed stopcock probably with the type of gadget you've mentioned?

Ta muchly once again.

Steve_xx

wimbleQ wrote: »

Hi,

Thanks Vaio for your reply. That sounds like a handy gadget wish I could get my hands on one of those and try it meself!!

Actually the water pressure isn't very good but I'm guessing there's nothing to be done about that as it's a shared supply?

Do you (or does anyone else) have an idea of costs for replacing the jammed stopcock probably with the type of gadget you've mentioned?

Ta muchly once again.

I can't understand what the water company are babbling on about. Why can't they turn the supply off in the street and then fit you a water meter?

vaio

wimbleQ wrote: »

Hi,

Thanks Vaio for your reply. That sounds like a handy gadget wish I could get my hands on one of those and try it myself!!

Actually the water pressure isn't very good but I'm guessing there's nothing to be done about that as it's a shared supply?

Do you (or does anyone else) have an idea of costs for replacing the jammed stopcock probably with the type of gadget you've mentioned?

Ta muchly once again.

Water pressure tends to be worse on shared supplies so that might point you towards getting your own direct supply installed.

I think screwfix do a little DIY freeze kit but I’ve only ever used the proper ones, cost of replacing the stopcock depends on what sort it is