Leaking stopcock- lead supply
Discussion
Tried to turn the water off with the old stopcock in the kitchen - big mistake...
It's now leaking quite badly from the gland, and the gland nut is rusted, rounded and seized solid. It looks like it's been chewed up quite a bit over the years, and every time I touch it the leak gets worse and I can't get it to budge at all.
The supply is the original lead (house built early 50s) - there's only a tiny amount of lead pipe protruding through the floor and the stopcock is welded (wiped?) straight on.
I can't work out any way of stopping the leak, other than shutting the water off in the street (which also turns my neighbours' off). I'm reluctant to apply too much force to the gland nut in case I twist/break the lead pipe.
Any suggestions? It's currently filling up a pint cup every half hour or so.
It's now leaking quite badly from the gland, and the gland nut is rusted, rounded and seized solid. It looks like it's been chewed up quite a bit over the years, and every time I touch it the leak gets worse and I can't get it to budge at all.
The supply is the original lead (house built early 50s) - there's only a tiny amount of lead pipe protruding through the floor and the stopcock is welded (wiped?) straight on.
I can't work out any way of stopping the leak, other than shutting the water off in the street (which also turns my neighbours' off). I'm reluctant to apply too much force to the gland nut in case I twist/break the lead pipe.
Any suggestions? It's currently filling up a pint cup every half hour or so.
As a repair that can be done quickly, a lead-loc fitting, a little copper pipe and a new stopcock will have you sorted.
https://www.melimatic.com/lead-loc/
try to avoid the assorted inferior copies.
https://www.melimatic.com/lead-loc/
try to avoid the assorted inferior copies.
We had a leak in the ground under our driveway with original lead pipes, fortunately we are solely supplied so turned it off in the road and ended up replacing the entire pipe into the house. The stopcock was impossible to shift and destroyed it trying so ended up cutting it off and fitting new plastic fittings with a new one.
If this is remotely an option the difference in pressure is huge, the shower especially is massively better. It's not answering your question but if you can't get the tap off you might be forced to.
If this is remotely an option the difference in pressure is huge, the shower especially is massively better. It's not answering your question but if you can't get the tap off you might be forced to.
Is it definitely rust? Shouldn't it all be brass or copper?
If it is all brass and copper, whizz all the crust off with a wire brush, then solder the shaft and nut to make seal, then fit a new shutoff valve in the copper bit.
Sadists that fit valves in these stupid tight locations, inches from the floor and tight up against walls will be first off to the gulag when I'm in charge
If it is all brass and copper, whizz all the crust off with a wire brush, then solder the shaft and nut to make seal, then fit a new shutoff valve in the copper bit.
Sadists that fit valves in these stupid tight locations, inches from the floor and tight up against walls will be first off to the gulag when I'm in charge
Edited by .:ian:. on Monday 19th October 22:20
JoshSm said:
You might slow it with self amalgamating tape or something else you can tightly add to reduce the leak, but that's just the short term fix for the flood.
Probably time to replace the lot, have a look what the water company might offer for free as it varies.
Thanks, yeah we have actually applied for the replacement scheme already - been waiting to hear backProbably time to replace the lot, have a look what the water company might offer for free as it varies.
shtu said:
As a repair that can be done quickly, a lead-loc fitting, a little copper pipe and a new stopcock will have you sorted.
https://www.melimatic.com/lead-loc/
try to avoid the assorted inferior copies.
Thanks. I've been looking at Lead Locs, I'm worried I don't have enough room to get one in but will have a better look tomorrow morning. The pipe coming out the floor is so short that there's hardly any straight length before the bulbous bithttps://www.melimatic.com/lead-loc/
try to avoid the assorted inferior copies.
D_G said:
We had a leak in the ground under our driveway with original lead pipes, fortunately we are solely supplied so turned it off in the road and ended up replacing the entire pipe into the house. The stopcock was impossible to shift and destroyed it trying so ended up cutting it off and fitting new plastic fittings with a new one.
If this is remotely an option the difference in pressure is huge, the shower especially is massively better. It's not answering your question but if you can't get the tap off you might be forced to.
Thank you, yeah I suspect this will probably happen at some point! Maybe sooner than I thought If this is remotely an option the difference in pressure is huge, the shower especially is massively better. It's not answering your question but if you can't get the tap off you might be forced to.
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