Called to a job this morning, leak in the ceiling. Well washer in ball valve had gone so overflowing. So I turn get valve, it snaps, look for incoming main, find it the corner of a corner unit. I cannot budge it. All lead pipe so not going to try to hard. Try find main on the street, I can't. So pop to williams to get one of those aladdin iso valves. Get back to house, It need a long 14mm socket. I don't have. Off to toolstation. Pay £50 for a set. Get back to house, and see I need a red line on the socket to get the correct depth, or just tighten until collar comes of with hands. after about 5 minutes of tightening, I see the collar move, so unscrew it an water flies out all over the place. Ask carer to pass me up big bin and open kitchen sink tap and outside tap to reduce the pressure. It helps a little but it is still flying out all over the shop. All I can think to do is call thames water and tell them I cannot find external stop tap and I am in the poo in a loft of a 2million pound house. Ok sir, we will be there within 4 hrs!!!! Noooo so I hold it tight for about 45 minutes but aladdin head gear is pushing out the body. Bugger, Pray, and I am going to have to go for live. Pipe slice in van. Grab iso valve and Juniour hacksaw from tool bag and cut into pipe. Water every where and not in the bin. Wack iso on and tighten the best I can do and bingo. A water tight fitting. Cancel Thames water as now I don't need. 30 minutes later they arrive. He finds stopcock but cannot turn it off as it is jammed. Sprays it blue and off he pops.
this was a close call. Am glad to be home!!!
this was a close call. Am glad to be home!!!
