Help, need new boiler but have water flow issues...

[Larysa]

Spoke to Thames Water today and they have put in a request to 'inspect' the external mains stop tap. As I haven't reported it as a leak, they are only obliged to come and inspect within 7 days at which point they will decide if any renewal is needed (will keep u posted Stan).

They also suggested that perhaps my plumber didn't have the right tools or didn't know what he was doing! I replied that the plumber was highly experienced and did indeed have the correct tools. To which she responded that it may be that TW has some kind of 'special tools' that ordinary plumbers don't have access to (eh ?!?). I said that if that was indeed the case then they should definitely replace the tap with something that all plumbers could access in case there was an emergency that required the mains supply to be turned off. Honestly, can't believe how much money I have to hand over a year in rates to these twits.

 

[hydrotherm]

We have to deal with these twits all the time!

 

[WaterTight]

This throws some light onto the fact that a suspiciously high percentage of jobs I've been to where no work can proceed until the external stopcock is changed are ones where I never hear back. Some get changed and I get called back but perhaps the rest either get changed so far down the line that the person can no longer remember who they had out to look at the job or the water undertaker claims there's nothing wrong with the stopcock and so no work can proceed. It does appear that if you claim to have a leak you stand a better chance. That's what I tell everyone to say now.

 

[Barry98]

big boys trying to keep it for themselfs as always

 

[Larysa]

Well, I'll let you know what happens....but I am determined to make sure I have an external mains tap that does what it is supposed to! Hopefully without having to resort to springing a leak! 🙂

If they do refuse to do anything - do you think I would I improve my chances by mentioning ofwat? And if they call my bluff, does ofwat have any teeth to make them sort it?

 

[Larysa]

Thames Water came out this morning to clarify which external stop tap was mine and that it could be turned on/off.

Result? They're still not sure which is mine! However, they have now completely broken the one they think it might be.
On the plus side, they have put in a request for the broken stop tap to be replaced with a new one. So, if it is mine, it may finally turn my water off. He promised this would be done today/tomorrow. We will see....

 

[Barry98]

i will hold my breath

 

[Larysa]

Don't think I will. Seems a right mickey mouse set-up they've got going over at TW!

More importantly, leak from internal stopcock now much more persistent and the bowl that took 2 days to fill, now filled overnight. Any suggestions til I can get the mains turned off?

 

[Barry98]

stan knows the place best he will be best to advise you L

 

[Larysa]

ok, if he doesn't reply on here by the time I get home, I'll contact him directly...
thx L

 

[Barry98]

ive already text him for ya , i would come but am in training so couldnt eat the bickis he left sunday

 

[Larysa]

According to a text from my neighbour - TW have already replaced the external stopcock (with something plastic?) and they have also checked that it does indeed isolate the water from my house. However, it has had no effect on increasing the water flow through the taps which I guess, bearing in mind I have between 4 & 5 bar pressure coming into the house, points to a leaky/blocked pipe somewhere?!

Hopefully it won't be too dark to inspect their handiwork b4 I get home!

 

[SafeGasInstall]

well at least they have come out on your request ( I am surprise on there response )

 

[Larysa]

Must be my strong powers of persuasion! lol
Hopefully they have made a decent job of it though.

 

[Resolute]

They must have heard there were biscuits and tea on offer!

 

[Larysa]

if I knew that's all it took to get the job done, I'd have stocked up ages ago! lol