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Ask The Trades › DIY Forum › Plumbing Questions › stopcock

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stopcock (Read 12791 times)

johnk

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stopcock
Jun 1^st, 2005, 5:03pm

After a warning from someone at work who was had a seized stopcock, I tested mine.
HELP it will not turn off the water.
It is 15mm on the consumer side in the kitchen.
Got advice from friendly Plumbing shop & others.
Turn locking nut to expose spindle and spray WD 40
wait 2 hours, retry, then run taps to remove WD 40 traces.

Have tried stopcock still seized.
Dont want to start hammering stopcock, flooded kitchen if something goes wrong.
Any ideas??????????????????????????????????????

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billythekid

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Re: stopcock
Reply #1 - Jun 1^st, 2005, 5:07pm

where the handle of the stopcock enters the body there should be a nut, this is the packing nut, try loosening this(you wont flood yourself out tho you might get a slight drip) this shoold help loosen the thing up, then try your wd. if it still wont turn try putting a set of grips on it. The worst that can happen is you bugger it up, but if you cant close it it's buggered anyway!

Hold against yourself when trying to turn it using a spanner/grips as the forces involved could damage the pipework.

btk

« Last Edit: Jun 1^st, 2005, 5:07pm by billythekid »

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billythekid Trade Member Offline I love YaBB 1G - SP1! Posts: 3402 Total Thanks: 0 For This Post: 0 Trade: Plumber	Re: stopcock Reply #2 - Jun 1^st, 2005, 5:11pm ahhh i see you tried the packing nut(locking nut?) well get a spanner onto it or some kind of wrench. If all else fails you could try heating the body with a blowtorch but you will probably need to re-pack and re-washer it afterwards if you do. next option really is to replace, a 15mm stopcock is not expensive, £1.65 from screwfix btk
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johnk

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Re: stopcock
Reply #3 - Jun 1^st, 2005, 5:52pm

First time I tried this site, great thoughful responses and so soon! well impressed.

The stopcock is the main one supplying the house, how do I turn of the water to replace it, if all else fails?
Have looked at previous problems on stopcocks not sure where my responsibility begins/ends.
I am sure that the external valve serves several households, a case for the water company?

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Re: stopcock
Reply #4 - Jun 1^st, 2005, 6:33pm

Stopcocks are reknowned for being subject to locking.

Given it a dose of pipe freezer followed by a gentle bit of flame might do the trick. All that's required is for the bonded surfaces to give very slightly and you've got control of the stopcock again.

Best to get this sorted now before you really need to turn the water off.

In a poll 99 out of 100 plumbers found their own stopcocks were frozen Grin

If you aren't always sure of the right answer don't take up a career in the bomb squad

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CWatters Super Member Offline "Daddy fick it" says James Posts: 5150 Total Thanks: 58 For This Post: 0 Gender:	Re: stopcock Reply #5 - Jun 1^st, 2005, 6:58pm [quote author=johnk link=1117641788/0#3 date=1117644769] The stopcock is the main one supplying the house, how do I turn of the water to replace it, if all else fails? [/quote] There is usually one in the road somewhere.
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billythekid

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Re: stopcock
Reply #6 - Jun 1^st, 2005, 7:50pm

yes, look outside the boundary to your property, along the pavement for a "toby" cover. If there is one in the street just be aware you might be turning off your neighbours water too. To turn that off it's a quarter turn valve.

If you do manage to get it unstuck, fully close and reopen it, when fully open, turn it clockwise(closing) a quarter of a turn to help prevent re-sticking.

btk

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johnk Newbie Offline I love YaBB 1G - SP1! Posts: 3 Total Thanks: 0 For This Post: 0	Re: stopcock Reply #7 - Jun 3^rd, 2005, 1:53pm Update on problem. Tried WD40 option, still stuck. Freezer option, bought small pack but unfortunately too near leaded external pipe to try, needs to be 7 inches clear of stopcock, tried anyway, but ???failed to stop the water, pressure too high.
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