Failed gate valve: how to stop hot water supply in flat?

[ianm]

Hi,
I need to replace the back nut on my hot bath tap. However, the gate valve on the cold water supply to the HWC seems to have failed and still allows a flow through the hot tap even when closed. I live in a flat, presumably with a shared cold water tank somewhere in the loft to which I don't have access. Is there any way I can stop the hot water supply to do this repair? Or failing that, is it a terrible idea to disconnect the pipe to the hot tap with the water still flowing slightly, quickly replace the back nut and reconnect the pipe?

Thanks,
Ian

 

[Simon F]

welcome to the forum.
do you know for sure that the nut will be able to quickly be changed??
the pipe could be frozen.
why do you need to change the back nut? can it not be tightened?
is there another hot tap that could be opened, possibly limiting the flow to the one you want to work on?

 

[ianm]

welcome to the forum.
do you know for sure that the nut will be able to quickly be changed??
the pipe could be frozen.
why do you need to change the back nut? can it not be tightened?
is there another hot tap that could be opened, possibly limiting the flow to the one you want to work on?

Hi Simon,
Thanks for the prompt response. The old nut was plastic and has split in two so definitely needs to be replaced. Opening the kitchen hot tap too sounds like a great idea. I'm assuming that if the pipe can be disconnected easily (haven't tried yet) it'll go back on easily too, and I just need a large enough bucket to hold the outflow for the time it takes to screw in the back nut.

Ian

 

[supper plumb]

is there now ISO valve on the pipe?
if the tha gate valve is bust then why not deal with that first by freezing then change the valve?


Sorry didn't read the post properly
its tank fed then bung the tank and crack on

 

[Dan Masey]

Bung the tank in the loft, change gate valve for a 22mm lever valve. Job done.

Failing that I'd be draining the tank personally and then fitting a new lever valve. Wouldn't chance doing it live.

 

[Gas]

This is easy, open other hot taps as suggested, fit a hose to an ISO and stick other end in bath/basin, cut through pipe quick as you can and throw the ISO on the pipe and tighten.

Even with a freely flowing gravity system you don't get that wet, nothing a couple of towels won't mop up.

 

[Bunker]

As above, but have loads of towels on standby just in case.
Shouldnt the landlord/ agents/ freeholder be sorting this? If you end up in trouble they might not be very sympathetic..

 

[Mike Jackson]

If there are other flats below you don't even think about trying to snatch it. Ground floor flat I'd think twice before doing it. If you can't get access to the cistern then it needs freezing to change the valve.

 

[Dannypipe]

Loads of options, freeze it, bung it, drain the tank.

Snatch has to be a last resort surely?

 

[Gas]

Loads of options, freeze it, bung it, drain the tank.

Snatch has to be a last resort surely?

Not when he has clearly said he has not got access to the tank and won't have a freeze machine else wouldn't be asking the question.