Thames Water lead pipes - meter to stopcock liability?

[joekam]

Hi all. Thames Water lead pipes - meter to stopcock liability? I have had contradicting info. from TW & employees regarding the TW /consumer onus to repair or replace and various dates relating to policy changes. I was denied a free change or repair 5+ years ago. Also been told that near future TW policy will again provide free maintenance up to stopcock.

 

[Basher]

Nope, it's an olive & a good seal. The leaking solder join is the olive & nut pipe into copper pipe & just hidden by the nut. Further down is another solder join. I will strip sleeve back tomorrow. thanks all.

If you are referring to ChrisB's suggestion that it's a tap connector (which it also looks like to me), surely what we see in the photos is not an olive? If it is, it's squashed beyond repair. It seems to have a flat face but with a chunk out of it (ringed) - or that might be a chunk out of the sealing washer?
Admittedly the other end of the tap seems to be a compression fitting, so if the above end is compression, the state of that olive might account for the leak?


The tap connector theory would also explain why you think that's a 20mm pipe, which maybe the flared sleeve of the connector soldered over the 15mm pipe?

 

[joekam]

Yes, thanks Basher, - this morning I realised it's not an olive but edit option prevented my correcting my error!
Leak is spraying up from pipe into pipe solder joint under nut.
I am now not so keen on disturbing the stripping sleeve/cladding as it seems to be of a plaster type that can be picked away and fabric lower down. Hope to get better pics but -2C & I have chilblains. Many Thanks

 

[Chuck]

Be cautious about disturbing the 'plaster type' insulation in case it has asbestos in it.

 

[Basher]

So if the gap is a missing bit of fibre washer, and you can remove the remainder, you could clean it up, fit a replacement washer and problem solved!? 🤪

 

[joekam]

So if the gap is a missing bit of fibre washer, and you can remove the remainder, you could clean it up, fit a replacement washer and problem solved!? 🤪

View attachment 79847

As I said, that joint is fine, the leak is where the tap join was added (hidden by nut). I appreciate your correction. I accept that I can either add solder or cut pipe and and replace with compression or quick fit tap fitting. Many thanks for your kind help.

 

[joekam]

Be cautious about disturbing the 'plaster type' insulation in case it has asbestos in it.

Thank You. It was crumbly, not powdery.