Leaking Internal stop tap with no outside stop tap

[smarties]

My internal stop tap is leaking and the water company have confirmed that there is no outside stop tap (and that they don't fit them to properties older than 1944). The plumber said that there isn't sufficient height on the internal pipework for it to be frozen. Can anyone help ? Thanks

 

[Gray0689]

My internal stop tap is leaking and the water company have confirmed that there is no outside stop tap (and that they don't fit them to properties older than 1944). The plumber said that there isn't sufficient height on the internal pipework for it to be frozen. Can anyone help ? Thanks

You have 2 options
Option one dig a hole find pipework and clamp it as long as it's not lead
Option 2 get wet as you change it

 

[kirkgas]

You have 2 options
Option one dig a hole find pipework and clamp it as long as it's not lead
Option 2 get wet as you change it

the water MUST turn off somewhere, the old council stock we worked on had toby valves turning off 4 or 8 houses, it would make sense to have your own toby valve, depending on how bad the leak is, it might make sense to dig up outside and be prepared to fit a new valve once you have identified the size and type of pipe, then arrange for the water board to turn off the water for 1hr while the new valve is fitted in your garden

 

[buff]

My internal stop tap is leaking and the water company have confirmed that there is no outside stop tap (and that they don't fit them to properties older than 1944). The plumber said that there isn't sufficient height on the internal pipework for it to be frozen. Can anyone help ? Thanks

were is it leaking from
is it were the handle comes out from the body ?😕

 

[kay-jay]

how bad is the leak?

 

[Scottley]

Dig it outside and cut it there and fit your own stopcock. At least if you run in to problems getting the new one on its outside and not flooding your kitchen!

 

[smarties]

The leak has been temporarily fixed using tape by a plumber. Although he has said it's unlikely to hold if we need to switch the water on/off again. The whole unit seems to be leaking and he suggested replacing the tap (before we realised we had no external stop tap).

The stop tap is in the hallway just inside the front door - we have no idea which direction the pipe comes in and am not keen to dig up the driveway.

Water board came out and checked and said that there is no way of switching the water off.

Thanks for all your suggestions - looks like we may have to dig the floors up to ensure there is enough space to freeze the pipe - anyone have an idea of how much length is needed to freeze the pipe ?.

Thanks for all the responses - really helpful

 

[buff]

sounds like the gland nut went,dont see why it wont hold i would leave it
bob

 

[kirkgas]

depending on the room under the floor it is possible to cut the pipe live and fit a new valve, it gives you a bit of a buzz but its surprising how little water you spill, especially if you can beothered rigging up a hose or something onto the outlet side of the valve and running it to a drain or outside, (it helps when you are trying to push the new valve onto the pipe if the water is running through it), if you just have the valve and it is shut the water pressure can build up a bit and cause some to spill out, just make sure the valve is fully on the pipe if you do it live as you dont want it blowing off later!!!!!!!!!!! when on and shut you can then rig up some pipe alterations and fit a second valve above the ground for future access, if you want to freeze it you need about 6-8" to fit the insulation sleeve and cabl ties to insert the freeze nozzle,

 

[beesley121]

for quickness and ease, just get yourself a push fit stopcock. open the stopcock a little, but not fully and have a towel handy, then get yourself prepared. cut into the coppr pipe using a pipe slice cutter on the incoming pipe, as soon as it cuts through the pipe, bang the pushfit stopcock on as fast as you can, throw a towel over the stopcock to stop it spraying upwards and the close it up.

its dead simple mate, we do it in wetherspoons pubs all the time as iso's are forever breaking/leaking and we are not allowed to turn the water off. you will get a real buzz once you have done it for the first time. try it mate. you will prob lose no more than 2-3 pints of water on your first go

 

[pcollins]

Bit surprising, what area are you in? I've had a similar issue with one of my customers, stopcock not leaking but doesn't shut water off either. They're not sure whether they have an external one or not and I cannot find it. Spoken to Severn Trent who've advised that if customer contacts the, they will go out and locate it, or if none exists they will fit one, all at no charge to my customer.

I would have thought that the targets the water undertakers have over wastage would have meant that all water companies would be offering this sort of thing...

 

[smarties]

Surprising and very annoying !

We're in Bristol so Bristol Water. They sent someone out to check and then posted a card through the door saying we didn't have one and that it is company policy not to fit a stoptap or boundary box to properties built before 1945. Apparently they used to do it but no more. They also gave me a list of companies who were apporved contractors - presumably at a small fortune to me.

 

[rumpo]

just an idea ,go on a meter,dont they have to do all the work ?

 

[HoodedClaw]

Good call on the meter, you can get one fitted and have a year to decide if you want to keep billing using it.

 

[smarties]

Did think about a meter - but it says that you will have to pay if the plumbing is not suitable - worth following up though ! Thanks for all the help and suggestions.

 

[Bernie2]

All seems a bit odd to me. Never heard of it before.

How do they turn the water off if the water company gets a leak on their part of the main outside your boundary wall?

Are they taking lessons off Ryanair and making everything an extra? I suppose they will be counting the water droplets soon and charging you for any more they think your getting over the amount they think you should get.

I would check it out with OFWAT.

 

[REDSAW]

did a job a few weeks ago.
did the usuall search out side and could only find boundary box shutting of 16 houses.
told the customer to check with severn trent again and they did a search and supplied drawings.

origionally the guy from s/t said the same no s/tap.

it was found under 4'' of tarmac right outside the property.

go to water board and ask for the plans.

 

[Scottley]

water meter is a good idea but in my area it takes up to 26 weeks to get it fitted.

 

[PlumbBobBob]

where was it

 

[wheeto]

where was it

Whoops, must engage brain before keyboard.