Yorkshire Water and supply pipe repair / replacement
Discussion
Long story short:
My house water supply pipe from the water meter to the stop tap is about 30 yards long.
Around 6 yards is under the house inside a conduit.
The pipe is copper and is corroding, probably as it was left open with rain water inside during construction of the house in 2001 (crap builder, rhymes with Barratt
).
Yorkshire Water allow you 2 free repairs in 5 years to your supply pipe. After that you pay.
I had a repair around 10 months ago.
It's now leaking again.
Man from YW came out last week and says the whole pipe needs replacing or it's just going to keep leaking from various different places.
He says he'll get YW to do this FOC.
YW now says they will repair it FOC but not replace it FOC. Could cost several £1000 to replace and I'd have to pay.
Question?
How do I get the pipe replaced without paying?
I'm happy for them just to move the water meter to 2 feet away from my stop tap. Apparently that's what they used to do all the time but now it's illegal.
Rather that the usual comments of 'kick their heads in' etc I'd prefer either legal bods to answer or people who have been in a similar position and successfully got a replacement without paying £1000's (don't mind a few £100 if it's sorted for good).
Ta.
My house water supply pipe from the water meter to the stop tap is about 30 yards long.
Around 6 yards is under the house inside a conduit.
The pipe is copper and is corroding, probably as it was left open with rain water inside during construction of the house in 2001 (crap builder, rhymes with Barratt
).Yorkshire Water allow you 2 free repairs in 5 years to your supply pipe. After that you pay.
I had a repair around 10 months ago.
It's now leaking again.
Man from YW came out last week and says the whole pipe needs replacing or it's just going to keep leaking from various different places.
He says he'll get YW to do this FOC.
YW now says they will repair it FOC but not replace it FOC. Could cost several £1000 to replace and I'd have to pay.
Question?
How do I get the pipe replaced without paying?
I'm happy for them just to move the water meter to 2 feet away from my stop tap. Apparently that's what they used to do all the time but now it's illegal.
Rather that the usual comments of 'kick their heads in' etc I'd prefer either legal bods to answer or people who have been in a similar position and successfully got a replacement without paying £1000's (don't mind a few £100 if it's sorted for good).
Ta.
Had mine replaced with large bore plastic pipe six months ago as the copper had deteriorated. They just dug two holes and ran a mole through so damage to the garden was minimal. Thankfully I had cover with homeserve at the time so they paid for it. I was always under the impression that from the meter/stopcock to the house is the householders responsibility not the water companies. Maybe that's why they are reluctant to cover the cost of replacement.
I think it depends where their responsibility starts and ends.
If it is NOT their responsibility then a free fix seems a good offer.
If it IS their responsibility then if they don't replace it, they will have to keep repairing it, which in the long run will cost them more time and aggro.
If it is NOT their responsibility then a free fix seems a good offer.
If it IS their responsibility then if they don't replace it, they will have to keep repairing it, which in the long run will cost them more time and aggro.
If the house was built in 2001, doesn't the 10 year NHBC guarantee cover it?
(8 years! Shows how shoddy modern construction is. My pipe under the house sprung its first leak a couple of years ago - house was built in 1935. Replaced FOC by Anglian Water from stop cock in drive to entry point under house.)
(8 years! Shows how shoddy modern construction is. My pipe under the house sprung its first leak a couple of years ago - house was built in 1935. Replaced FOC by Anglian Water from stop cock in drive to entry point under house.)
Edited by ctdctd on Monday 19th October 21:10
Simpo Two said:
rfisher said:
Looks like I'll have to cough up to get it replaced.
Any chance that you can do it yourself?My house is 1 of 3 in a cul-de-sac and all 3 of us own the road so I could theoretically demand 2/3 of the dosh from my neighbours.
It's probably not worth doing that for goodwill reasons so I might as well pay a private contractor to dig up the road.
Any PH members in the digging up roads and pipe laying business and like beer / TVRs / cash.
Not sure if you are legally allowed to connect your own pipe to a water company meter. I expect I'd go to the Tower of London for that.
An extract from my NHBC guide document 8.1
PRECAUTIONS AGAINST CORROSION
8.1 - M2 Materials for internal water services shall be selected to ensure satisfactory service for the life of the systems, taking suitable precautions against corrosion
Pipes and fittings for water services should be of materials which are safe and minimise the risk of corrosion. The recommendations of the water supplier should be followed as to the compatibility of the water supply with materials and fittings.
In areas where pitting corrosion of copper cylinders occurs, it may be necessary to fit aluminium protector rods. These should be fitted during manufacture in accordance with the relevant British Standard.
The water supplier may require a sacrificial anode to be fitted.
Further guidance is given in BS EN 806
PRECAUTIONS AGAINST CORROSION
8.1 - M2 Materials for internal water services shall be selected to ensure satisfactory service for the life of the systems, taking suitable precautions against corrosion
Pipes and fittings for water services should be of materials which are safe and minimise the risk of corrosion. The recommendations of the water supplier should be followed as to the compatibility of the water supply with materials and fittings.
In areas where pitting corrosion of copper cylinders occurs, it may be necessary to fit aluminium protector rods. These should be fitted during manufacture in accordance with the relevant British Standard.
The water supplier may require a sacrificial anode to be fitted.
Further guidance is given in BS EN 806
YW must make the conection to the meter/stopcock.
You can supply and fit your own pipe.
When we renovated I had the plumber fit a 50mm pipe down to the road,he thought that this may not be a good idea,and that YW would probably reduce it to 25mm into the main. How wrong he was YW actually used a 63mm pipe from the main to the meter and then reduced the other side to our 50mm.
You can supply and fit your own pipe.
When we renovated I had the plumber fit a 50mm pipe down to the road,he thought that this may not be a good idea,and that YW would probably reduce it to 25mm into the main. How wrong he was YW actually used a 63mm pipe from the main to the meter and then reduced the other side to our 50mm.
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