unstoppable leak! PLEASE HELP PLUMBERS OF GREAT BRITAIN!

[AmateurAdam]

Hello,

I've just moved in with my girlfriend in her house in Newcastle. While doing some renovating I needed to turn the stop-cock off. This prompted the tap on it to start leaking which gradually got worse, to the point where water was spraying out of the top of the component where the tap stem goes down into the body. I have removed the tap from the wall twice and attempted various repairs, but have not yet attempted to remove and replace the whole of the stop-cock. The water enters the property via a lead pipe and exits the stop-cock via copper (15-20mm?)

I purchased a replacement stop-cock hoping to switch the new tap with the old but the new tap will not screw into the old body. (Metric vs Imperial?) So I have been to various dealers this morning; Plumb Centre etc, asking for an adaptor/advice.

It was suggested that I would have to replace the stop-cock entirely.
I am wondering if there is a quicker fix as I am in no sense of the word a 'plumber'. I only have Dad on the end of the phone and a 1970s book.

Could anyone offer any advice?
Or a rough estimate how much it would cost to get someone in to do it as I dont have all the kit/knowledge to attekpt it myself - also as the supply comes from a lead pipe I was told not to tamper with such things?

 

[PlumbBobBob]

hi adam welcome to the forums. is there room above the old one to cut a new one in? if there is then you could go down that route. the original stopcock looks like the spindle nut has come undone while turning it off which could be where the water is coming from, it only needs repacking to stop the water coming out. give it a bit of a service if you are capable, you need some wd40 or other releasing oil to release the spindle from the nut after removing the silicone. get some ptfe tape(you only need a small amount) about 10-12 cm should be enough, roll it along your leg to make it roll up into a string wrap it round the spindle under the nut and do the nut up until you can hardly turn the handle then turn it back to release the spindle slightly. you should find this has fixed the leak.

 

[Killy Bing]

Hmm, repair?

repair

restore (something damaged, faulty, or worn) to a good condition.
"faulty electrical appliances should be repaired by an electrician"

or more suitably a bodge?

bodge
make or repair (something) badly or clumsily.
"the door was bodged together from old planks"

get a plumber in to sort it and let him have a giggle at the mastic action.

 

[chris watkins]

How to Repair a Leaking Stop Valve - YouTube

Have a look at this you may be able to re-pack the stuffing gland & stop the leak.

 

[PlumbBobBob]

perfect chris thanks just what i was trying to describe lol

 

[kris]

Oh the lead... if possible and if not to costly i would see about having the lead removed and alkethene put in along with new stopcock. Hey presto piece of mind.... thats if time and money allows it.

 

[Centralheatking]

One thing I would have posted if I was not on M6
with a leak like this is -
1. Turn all taps on in house to reduce the gusher
2. Ask neighbours to do similar

OR Nuclear option bash the incoming lead main flat before the
stop tap - :hurray:

Then maybe this fella would have a better chance in my opinion

centralheatking

 

[AmateurAdam]

Thanks guys - I had turned the mains off in the street - so I can work on things without getting wet. But anything I have so far attempted as failed after two or three days.

I will check out the video though, thanks.

 

[AmateurAdam]

OK - I've watched the video. I can't remove the gland-nut - it's had it basically, nor does the handle at the top of the stem come off. I think it's probably been on there since the 50s.

So...

 

[PlumbBobBob]

is there room above to put another one in? you should be able to get a screw in plug for the old stopcock.

 

[stevetheplumber]

youve put the ptfe the wrong side of the gland nut

 

[Ermintrude]

I will do it tomorrow for £120

 

[mike-c]

£119.

 

[BN9Pete]

How to Repair a Leaking Stop Valve - YouTube

Have a look at this you may be able to re-pack the stuffing gland & stop the leak.

Seeing the tools on the workshop wall in that YouTube video reminds me of college, at the end of the day there was always one tool missing and we weren't allowed to go home until the missing tool was found.

 

[AmateurAdam]

I think - other than remove and replace what is there - which I don't want to attempt that is probably the last remaining option.

I had tried to plug the leak with 'Plumbers Mate', - a two-part epoxy paste.
And then wrap that in a 'silicon bandage' - I realise now how naive I was...

 

[chris watkins]

Seeing the tools on the workshop wall in that YouTube video reminds me of college, at the end of the day there was always one tool missing and we weren't allowed to go home until the missing tool was found.

Quite right too !!! There would be none left otherwise.

Which one did you nick this week, there is one missing from the wall ?

 

[lame plumber]

remember the techie replenishing all the pushfit and copper fittings before lunch, when they came back the little scrotes had had the lot 🙂 mind you I still have a very nice wire stripper I found in the really secure rainy day store🙂

 

[Ermintrude]

I will do it tomorrow for £120

Literally live in the toon'

 

[JCplumb]

I had a problem with an old imperial stop tap years ago. The only place that I was advised to go to for replacement parts was the scrap merchants - to see if they had one in the brass bin. It may be worth you trying that.

*edit* £118 🙂

 

[BN9Pete]

Quite right too !!! There would be none left otherwise.

Which one did you nick this week, there is one missing from the wall ?

Small spirit level, when the bloke turns his back a bigger spirit level has gone missing:cyclist:

 

[chris watkins]

I can understand the boat level going, it might have sailed away !! but one of the little darlings must have half inched the big'en then went for the 15mm slide.

PS. Are those "Shetake" spanner ?? Surely they can't still be telling apprentices that they will under taps, when we all know all they are good for is hitting things with. :6::hammer:

 

[jtsplumbing]

Found in the past that the working parts on old stop cocks can be replaced with parts from outside garden tap, give it a go, it may still work !!

 

[josh]

Sellotape over that will defiantly work, tightly wrap it round about 20-30 times.


Had the college rule to and we had to wait as a pair of grips were not back on the board, turned out they had fallen behind a cylinder in one of the bays.

 

[Dannypipe]

OP - call a plumber mate, or take up the offer on here.

 

[jase158]

Brass Flanged Plug ¾" | Brassware Sundries | NoLinkingToThis

may be different size though, try 1", 3/8" 1/2"

Pegler stopcock 15mm | Garden Taps | NoLinkingToThis

some 15mm pipe cutters or hacksaw, job done!!!

DO NOT CUT LEAD AS NO FITTING WILL FIT THIS!!