Plumbing help please

[fundy]

In the process of stripping out our en-suite and we need to shut off the water.

However, the internal stopcock is not moving for love nor money. Is there a knack to it or a way of releasing one that hasnt been used for many years (we assume), have tried wd40 and brute force with no success. Is it a case of getting a plumber to come and do it?

Oh and we cant shut the water off using the external one either as we cant access it and are waiting for the water board to come!

 

[MegaSteve]

Have you tried applying some heat?

 

[Deleted member 1740]

In the process of stripping out our en-suite and we need to shut off the water.

However, the internal stopcock is not moving for love nor money. Is there a knack to it or a way of releasing one that hasnt been used for many years (we assume), have tried wd40 and brute force with no success. Is it a case of getting a plumber to come and do it?

Oh and we cant shut the water off using the external one either as we cant access it and are waiting for the water board to come!

If you've not already tried, Try turning the head with a pair of water pliers. Other than that, get yourself a freeze kit and cut a new stop tap above the existing one.

If you're not confident get a local plumber to do it.

 

[fundy]

If you've not already tried, Try turning the head with a pair of water pliers. Other than that, get yourself a freeze kit and cut a new stop tap above the existing one.

If you're not confident get a local plumber to do it.

hmm, tried the water pliers, we now have no tap as such as the head came off Guess we'll try the freeze kit!

 

[Deleted member 21258]

You should be able to replace the whole middle bit of the tap(ie the bit that turns on and off, not the whole stopcock), by undoing the whole centre section(with the big nut gland) and removing it. Assuming you can get to it to undo it.

You will clearly need to ensure you have the right size replacement ready.

As said above you would freeze the pipes before (not that I have ever used this). When I replaced mine we had to get the waterboard out to shut down the outside maincock for a little while(was a number of years ago now, and don't think those freeze kits existed).

 

[PhilTheFragger]

As suggested get a freeze kit, you can also now get copper push fittings, which make it a breeze
obtain a new tap/ isolator valve in advance, have it ready,Freeze, cut the pipe, clean swarf, push on new tap (Make sure its closed) whole job should take 2 mins

 

[Deleted member 1740]

hmm, tried the water pliers, we now have no tap as such as the head came off Guess we'll try the freeze kit!

I can see this getting very messy, get a local plumber round while you go and play 9 holes. Job sorted.

 

[fundy]

I can see this getting very messy, get a local plumber round while you go and play 9 holes. Job sorted.

This is definitely looking favourite!!!!

 

[bigslice]

Get a water key or toby key n give it a go, if it burts 999'n ask for the water fairys. (Get a plumber

 

[Crazyface]

This is definitely looking favourite!!!!

With knobs on !!!!

 

[SocketRocket]

Dont mess around with it, just imagine a jet of water coming out that you cant turn off. It needs the external stop cock turning off and a plumber to fit you a new one.

 

[Rooter]

I may be wrong (i often am, so take advice from Stu over me!!!) but wouldn't all the water in the upstairs (i assume) bathroom come from the water tank in the loft and the hot water system, So in theory you could crack on by isolating the cold tank (either shut the valve if there is one, or tie up the ballcock) in the loft and draining, and draining the hot system allowing you to crack on with the bathroom while you wait for a plumber to fit a new mains stopcock. Ignore me if you are on a combi boiler.

Thats how i did mine anyway...

 

[fundy]

I may be wrong (i often am, so take advice from Stu over me!!!) but wouldn't all the water in the upstairs (i assume) bathroom come from the water tank in the loft and the hot water system, So in theory you could crack on by isolating the cold tank (either shut the valve if there is one, or tie up the ballcock) in the loft and draining, and draining the hot system allowing you to crack on with the bathroom while you wait for a plumber to fit a new mains stopcock. Ignore me if you are on a combi boiler.

Thats how i did mine anyway...

Not on a combi boiler....


But dont have an upstairs either!

 

[Rooter]

Not on a combi boiler....


But dont have an upstairs either!

OK, so the cold water in the bathroom may be mains fed rather than tank fed maybe. ignore me and pay an expert dude!

 

[Deleted member 1740]

OK, so the cold water in the bathroom may be mains fed rather than tank fed maybe. ignore me and pay an expert dude!

For the sake of a few ££ it's worth letting someone else get wet whilst your playing 9 holes