Leaking Exterior Tap?
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Discussion

MiniMan64

Original Poster:

18,838 posts

213 months

Sunday 25th July 2010
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Right DIYers, I've got a leaking exterior tap, part of the joint seems to have split, I've got the kit to replace it, seems fairly straight forward, screw old leaky one off, screw new fresh tap on. Problem is I can't turn the water off anywhere!

The tap cold feed on the otherside of the wall is behind kitchen cabinets, had a look at it today and it is a straight take off from the cold feed copper pipe that goes on to the kitchen sink and bathroom in the next room, theres no seperate off switch for the outside feed. The main cold feed comes straight out of the floor further along the wall with no tap either.

Any suggestions? I'm not sure if the pressure would small enough for me to undo the old tap and fit the old one without turning the water off but I doubt it.

Help?! Leaking tap is doing our back yard no favours.

Mr GrimNasty

8,172 posts

193 months

Sunday 25th July 2010
quotequote all
(a) Find stop cock/water meter in street or drive? OR
(b) Pipe freezing kit.

MiniMan64

Original Poster:

18,838 posts

213 months

Sunday 25th July 2010
quotequote all
Mr GrimNasty said:
(a) Find stop cock/water meter in street or drive? OR
(b) Pipe freezing kit.
(a) No idea where that is and we live in a shared flats/building
(b) a what?

DocJock

8,722 posts

263 months

Sunday 25th July 2010
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Tbh I'd be fitting a means of isolating it at the same time in case of future problems.

dirkgently

2,160 posts

254 months

Sunday 25th July 2010
quotequote all
Do it live but don`t forget to get the OH to video the operation.
If you are "chicken" find the boundary stopcock(usually under the pavement adjoining the front of the property) and turn the supply off there.

Mr GrimNasty

8,172 posts

193 months

Sunday 25th July 2010
quotequote all
DocJock said:
Tbh I'd be fitting a means of isolating it at the same time in case of future problems.
Definitely - what on earth would you do at the moment if you sprung a leak?

MiniMan64

Original Poster:

18,838 posts

213 months

Sunday 25th July 2010
quotequote all
The replacement kit I bought has a seperate isolator tap but it's a bit odd one to fit as it seems to screw straight into an existing copper pipe. All a lot of work when I just want screw in a new tap!

dirkgently

2,160 posts

254 months

Sunday 25th July 2010
quotequote all
The meter and stopcock are probably in a cupboard in the shared area of the flats. The nosy old biddy will know where.

B17NNS

18,506 posts

270 months

Sunday 25th July 2010
quotequote all
There should be a stop tap where the supply enters your building. Usually under the kitchen sink. This will isolate the supply into your property.

Issue with outside tap or not make an effort to find it and ensure that it works. The last thing you need when something springs a leak is to not know how tto stop it quickly.

There should also be a stop tap in the pavement. This may just serve your flat or several. Again, find it and make sure it works. If it doesn't contact your water supplier who will fix it for free.

Whilst you have the water turned off to fix your outside tap fit an isolating valve inside before the supply to the tap. Allows you to turn it off for future maintenance without distrupting all your other outlets along with enabling you to turn it off in winter.

The tap you fit should have a check valve (non return valve) built it.

Gingerbread Man

9,173 posts

236 months

Sunday 25th July 2010
quotequote all
There will be a stopcock somewhere. Meter cupboard? If you can't find one, look in the street and turn your flat off there.

If that is still not a goer, open all of the mains fed taps in the house to take as much flow and pressure off as possible, then having prepared the new tap with PTFE, quickly take the old one off and screw the new one in. Put plenty of PTFE on the threads so you can have a water tight fitting and a tap that is also upright when finished!

dirkgently

2,160 posts

254 months

Sunday 25th July 2010
quotequote all
Gingerbread Man said:
If that is still not a goer, open all of the mains fed taps in the house to take as much flow and pressure off as possible, then having prepared the new tap with PTFE, quickly take the old one off and screw the new one in. Put plenty of PTFE on the threads so you can have a water tight fitting and a tap that is also upright when finished!
Do this, but make sure you have the proceedings videoed.

Ferg

15,242 posts

280 months

Sunday 25th July 2010
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B17NNS said:
The tap you fit should have a check valve (non return valve) built it.
Better to fit one without and fit a seperate valve inside. The taps with them in tend to freeze up and knacker the valves.

Gingerbread Man

9,173 posts

236 months

Sunday 25th July 2010
quotequote all
Ferg said:
B17NNS said:
The tap you fit should have a check valve (non return valve) built it.
Better to fit one without and fit a seperate valve inside. The taps with them in tend to freeze up and knacker the valves.
Aye, we find this. More hassle than they're worth.

MiniMan64

Original Poster:

18,838 posts

213 months

Sunday 25th July 2010
quotequote all
dirkgently said:
Gingerbread Man said:
If that is still not a goer, open all of the mains fed taps in the house to take as much flow and pressure off as possible, then having prepared the new tap with PTFE, quickly take the old one off and screw the new one in. Put plenty of PTFE on the threads so you can have a water tight fitting and a tap that is also upright when finished!
Do this, but make sure you have the proceedings videoed.
Did this but no video I'm afraid, little bit wet but job jobbed. THanks for the advice chaps.

Flintstone

8,644 posts

270 months

Sunday 25th July 2010
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I bought one of those pipe freezing kits for a job but didn't need it. Could be years before I get to try it out so Ferg or someone, are they any good?

dirkgently

2,160 posts

254 months

Monday 26th July 2010
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Flintstone said:
I bought one of those pipe freezing kits for a job but didn't need it. Could be years before I get to try it out so Ferg or someone, are they any good?
They are quit effective if used correctly, although its a good idea to have a plan "b" just incase the ice plug fails.