Stop tap woes...?

[gouldymufc]

Arrived at a customers house yesterday to find the handles on the stopcock had been snapped off onle leaving a bit of thread exposed. I then soaked it in WD40 and tried to get a bit of movement with a pair of grips but to no avail, then trying to get to the external stop tap outside i am unable to get the lid off in the road....i am now mega stuck??? Any ideas lads?

 

[Carl86]

You could try a pipe freezing kit. Any pipe before the stop tap could be sleved and frozen then the stop tap could be changed and water switched off and on again.

 

[gouldymufc]

Yeah that is my only option i think carl86, have never used any pipe freezing sort of thing before though so not to sure what to expect? How long would the freeze last? Any specific make that you would reccomend? When the freeze wears off, will the water pressure not do any damage?

 

[Bernie2]

Hmm!

Usually a broken stopcock lid in the road, is the water authorities problem to free. You could report it to them.

But have you tried, if its a cast iron grid top, tapping the hinges with a hammer? If you angle back the hammer and knock back wards and down wards just past the pivot point of the hinge, it often free's the lid enough to get the tang of the water key under the front edge.

You can of course freeze the pipe inside and change the internal stopcock. But in some houses there just isn't the length of pipe before the stopcock for you to be able to do this. In which case its back to the outside grid top job.

You could at a push and if the external stopcock isn't on a path or where somebody could fall down it, lift the flagstone and get at it that way?

But don't forget its your job to reinstate the ground around the stopcock and look after it for a few months afterward.

I would get the local water company to do it if I was you. Its usually free by the way. But if the house is flooding out and the job can't wait.

 

[Carl86]

Used a make called Artic Spray, did its job, time varies they say 30+ mins but id always have the gear at the ready and access to the pipe work before any disconection are made. One the ice plug thaws naturally there isnt in my experience any damage to pipe work.

Like Bernie says there isnt always the required pipe before a stopcock for the freezing jacket to go over guys on here with more experience with these kits may offer more advice, either way if you do chose to do the job and go down the freezing route follow the manufacturers instructions carefully and use caution when the times are concerned and have good preperation with all your geat and parts at hand you dont want a leak midway through the change over!

 

[flat pack]

Hi put the pipe freezing kit on after the stopcock, when the cold stop at the kitchen sink cut the pipe and put a second one in sorted

 

[Bernie2]

Hi put the pipe freezing kit on after the stopcock, when the cold stop at the kitchen sink cut the pipe and put a second one in sorted

Yes you can do that as well. Might look a bit daft perhaps if its on show and it may restrict overall flow but it should work, if neither the looks or the flow restriction matter much.

 

[justlead1]

Hi, With the risk of stating to obvious, did you loosen the packing gland prior to trying to turn spindle? Also when freezing any flow in the main supply pipe will not allow the ice to form. The water authorities are normally quick to respond, as stated the box is their responsibility. Good luck

 

[alph250]

IMO i would freeze the pipe on a bend or over a fitting, I've seen it done in a commercial situation where a 2.5" cwm was freezed, section of pipework removed and within 2 minutes a 9" long block of Ice shot out followed by a mini flood!

 

[bobpape]

Before you do anything else try warming it with your blow lamp, I Know/ I know/ the water
content will draw on the heat but never-the-less sometimes it works, it would definately work if there
was no water in the pipe, also rather than use a pair of grips use a stud exractor which will also come in handy when you break a water board stopcock.

 

[migoplumber]

just ring your water board. they will fix the problem free. dont spend your money fixing their problem

once thats fixed, change the internal stop tap normally.

all above comments totally valid, however what would happen if your new stop tap leaked, or your joint were not sound, you wouldnt be able to refreeze due to water flow, and would have a bigger problem still

get street problem fixed FREE first

good luck
shaun

 

[gouldymufc]

Thanks for all of the replies guys, this site really is a god send! I have spoken to the water board and you were all right and they will sort the street problem for free but have said that it could take upto 10 days for it to be done....i really appreciate all of your inputs and no matter how tempting the freeze option was i think i'll take the safe option of the water board to save me a possible red face!