Faulty stopcock in new build

[Charlie080]

Evening all,

I moved into a new build flat about 2 months ago and last week the nut on the stopcock broken and caused the water supply pipe to come completely loose, thus quite a big leak followed.

Looking at the stopcock that broke (photo attached) I believe a secondhand/faulty stopcock was installed in the first place.

Any thoughts on the cause of the stopcock to break? and whether a 2 month old stopcock should look so weathered?

Thanks

 

[rpm]

Was the nut in the top of the photo actually the one fitted or is it from somewhere else and fitted to the valve for the photo?

 

[Charlie080]

No, the nut at the top was a new nut the plumber used when replacing the broken (photographed) stopcock.

The bottom nut (with crack in) was the previous nut.

Thanks

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Seen it a few times normally down to cheap materials and overtighting

 

[Charlie080]

Would a stopcock thats only 5 months old have that much corrosion on it?

Cheers

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Would a stopcock thats only 5 months old have that much corrosion on it?

Cheers

The discoloured yes but not the blue flecks of flux no

 

[rpm]

Would a stopcock thats only 5 months old have that much corrosion on it?

Cheers

Where exactly was it situated? Cold, warm or a hot area?

 

[Charlie080]

It is beneath the sink. The feed runs about 2m to get to the boiler. There is a DW and WM either side of the sink, so there would be hot water feeds running at some points, although the area doesn't generally feel warm.

 

[rpm]

Would a stopcock thats only 5 months old have that much corrosion on it?

Cheers

Guess the only way to have any idea is to give it 5 months then see however as said the quality of the valve in the first place plays a big part.
PS>
Nuts don`t suddenly crack at that sort of pressure in a domestic flat.

 

[Meady]

Stopcocks quite often get fitted at first fix stage before the house is weather tight so they are open to the elements.

 

[rpm]

Stopcocks quite often get fitted at first fix stage before the house is weather tight so they are open to the elements.

Good point there.

 

[Charlie080]

Thanks all. I am not too fussed on the exterior condition of the stopcock, more the reason why it failed (and whether it's corrosion had any impact on why it failed).

From all your inputs, I would conclude it is to do with over tightening of the nut, or just a cheap part (although even cheap ones should last I'd have thought?).

Something I shall take up with the builder as am still within the defects period.

Cheers

 

[jtsplumbing]

Who are the builders ? the finish on that wall is crap ! if that's an example of what they do what's the rest of the build like

 

[Chuck]

Thanks all. I am not too fussed on the exterior condition of the stopcock, more the reason why it failed (and whether it's corrosion had any impact on why it failed).

If you start with poor quality fittings there's all sorts of ways things can fail. My guess is that the joint leaked when first made but instead of dismantling and fixing the problem properly someone got their big adjustable spanner out and overtightened the nut.

Try and get a decent quality replacement fitted. I like Pegler myself.

 

[oz-plumber]

Your first objective is to find out who supplied and installed the valve.
Get some firm proof - in writing.

Contact your insurance company, with the proof of the installer / installation company and let them deal with it.

Was there much water damage?