water stopcock

[merlin77]

Hi everyone

I am going away for three weeks - I live in a flat and wonder is it necessary to turn the stopcock off.

The stopcock has been closed too tight and would need a wrench to release it and I don't have the time to get someone to do this right now.

Thanks

 

[Blake]

Do you mean it has been opened fully and is locked on?

 

[PlumbBobBob]

op's post is confusing if stopcock is stuck shut why ask about closing? if you're worried you will have to get someone in.

 

[merlin77]

Hi and thanks for your reply - I am sorry my add was unclear - I want to turn the water off, but the stopcock is very hard to turn water off. No I can;t afford a plumber I just want to know if water should be turned off if property is vacant for 3 weeks or will it be ok to leave it as is.

Thanks

 

[PlumbBobBob]

you could try undoing the gland nut slightly to see if that loosens the spindle at all.

 

[Plumbstar Tom]

You can afford to go away but not a plumber?

We're not that expensive!

Well its a case of putting your mind at rest that the water is off and not leaking all over the house due to a burst pipe

You could try the out side stopcock

 

[merlin77]

Thanks to all answers regarding stopcock - I have just had the problem solved.

Thanks to all who responded.

 

[WaterTight]

meh, it's warm weather...what's the worst that can happen??????

 

[merlin77]

Thanks yours is the most logical reply and yes its warm weather - whats the worse that can happen - the answer is nothing. As luck would have it a builder is just starting work on a flat next door - and he said similar to you - no need to turn the water off - you're only away for three weeks and its warm weather. Yea so thanks for your reply the only one who is giving information away for free and not trying to get a job out of it by over-egging.

Thanks alot.

 

[Plumbstar Tom]

Its not just ice that causes pipes to leak from bursting

 

[Blake]

I don't think anyone is trying to get a job out of you as we have no idea which area of the country you are in. I would advise getting someone in though to sort the stop tap, if you ever developed a leak on the system you need to be able to turn the water off quickly to avoid water damage.

 

[dontknowitall]

Why not fix it/have it fixed soon so that it doesn't become an expensive and inconvenient emergency at a future date?

 

[Plumbstar Tom]

I don't think anyone is trying to get a job out of you as we have no idea which area of the country you are in. I would advise getting someone in though to sort the stop tap, if you ever developed a leak on the system you need to be able to turn the water off quickly to avoid water damage.

Agreed

If something doesn't work then get it fixed sooner rather than later

The last thing you want is a leak you cant stop all because you didn't want to pay for a new stopcock

 

[kay-jay]

ha ha

it might be warm weather but i hope you don't have flexi-hoses or self installed pushfit fittings everywhere...............

accident waiting to happen

 

[SafeGasInstall]

why have plumber in who will charge you to do the work , estate use the builder from next door he will do it for free .
those plumbers are very expansive ,if I was you I would personally not do anything just go on holiday and everything will be ok
if anything happen just blame your self for been not able to be at home when the accident happen
and get the competent builder from next door to repair it
builders are the one to use as the are very experienced not like plumbers ,what do plumbers know about water and Gas ?!
they always trying to get your money without delivering quality services
so hope you have a wonderful holiday and spent as much as you can and then be out of money until x mas
and I was going to just mention ,you know they always on about servicing boilers
that is another way of them" ripping you off" ,just to have a look in the boiler and check for gas and CO leaking to the room
is it worth it spending around £100.00 ! You can just relay on your luck and thinking I will be alight and will never happen to me !
Well this sort of attitude gets people like you , and the insurance company's will not pay anything as you have not had annual inspections on your gas and water ,but hey who cares about your property as you hardly your self so why the others will !
And yes pls comeback and let us know how was your holiday

 

[easyt]

why have plumber in who will charge you to do the work , estate use the builder from next door he will do it for free .
those plumbers are very expansive ,if I was you I would personally not do anything just go on holiday and everything will be ok
if anything happen just blame your self for been not able to be at home when the accident happen
and get the competent builder from next door to repair it
builders are the one to use as the are very experienced not like plumbers ,what do plumbers know about water and Gas ?!
they always trying to get your money without delivering quality services
so hope you have a wonderful holiday and spent as much as you can and then be out of money until x mas
and I was going to just mention ,you know they always on about servicing boilers
that is another way of them" ripping you off" ,just to have a look in the boiler and check for gas and CO leaking to the room
is it worth it spending around £100.00 ! You can just relay on your luck and thinking I will be alight and will never happen to me !
Well this sort of attitude gets people like you , and the insurance company's will not pay anything as you have not had annual inspections on your gas and water ,but hey who cares about your property as you hardly your self so why the others will !
And yes pls comeback and let us know how was your holiday

On the other hand it might be a rented property.
My youngest daughter had a similar concern last winter. She lives in a rented terrace house and stop tap jammed. Landlord had been promising to get it fixed from September. In November I contacted waterboard as the tap in the street was in a poor state Once that was fixed at least water could be turned off. Stop tap repaired recently by landlord.

(Actually I told the daughter not to worry at Christmas. Better to have the heating come on for an hour morning and night.)

 

[WaterTight]

Thing is, most often people don't know whether their external stopcock turns off or not. They presume it can and quite often could be totally without any way to turn the water off in an emergency.

 

[leelister6]

If it's a rented property and you've been asking the L/l to get it sorted for months, try phoning him at 4:32am screaming that theres water coming through the ceiling and you can't turn the water off at the stopcock. Worked for a friend of mine.

 

[leelister6]

And Merlin77, it really is bad form to come on here asking for advice then implying that all Plumbers are overcharging, incompetent buffoons! Shame on you!!!!

 

[Plumbstar Tom]

I think the OP has got our point now

He has touched a nerve here after being given some fair and honest advice he has needlessly bit back

Thread Closed