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Jan 3, 2021
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London
Member Type
DIY or Homeowner
I have a Plimex ball valve that is the inside stop tap for the mains supply that has recently started leaking.
It’s only 2 years old (when property was renovated) and suspect it could be due to thermal cycling with the cold weather.
Access is restricted as the pipe work was put behind a plywood sheet (per pictures).
Question;
Would tighting the connector likely help? Can’t tighten by hand so what would be a good tool with the restricted access? ... could a strap wrench work if I bought one?
Failing that what would my next steps be and any idea how big a job it is? ... I think the outside tap at the meter is reasonably easy to access as the builders had it on and off.
Many thanks in advance.
Best,
Tom
 

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Need to cut out the ply and see where it’s exactly leaking from could be further up the pipe
Thank you. Hard to get a picture but I can see the water gently bubbling up from the connector/screw fit. Pipe looks dry/dusty still above that (id wondered myself whether it was ground water chasing down the outside of the pipe but doesn’t seem to be the case)
 
Thanks @ShaunCorbs ! Yes it is exactly that... the lettering on the side matches. I’ll have a spare on standby for the plumber... sounds like it might need swapping out?

maybe or stripping and remaking

if you can I would look at making that ply back fully removable and maybe fix it back with a screw in each corner then if anything goes wrong you can easily remove the ply to get at everything

also I would turn the stop tap off for now as it’s leaking a bit of water unless it’s somewhere that you don’t mind getting wet eg garage etc
 
maybe or stripping and remaking

if you can I would look at making that ply back fully removable and maybe fix it back with a screw in each corner then if anything goes wrong you can easily remove the ply to get at everything

also I would turn the stop tap off for now as it’s leaking a bit of water unless it’s somewhere that you don’t mind getting wet eg garage etc
It’s a good idea. Unfortunately the builders then fixed some pipe work to the outer side of the plywood but I’m sure I can fashion a larger inspection hatch around this valve. Thanks for your help
 

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