Help with replacement stopcock

Philtor

Philtor

Philtor

Soldato
Joined
20 Nov 2009
Posts
7,044
Hi Folks

The stopcock for turning off the mains water supply under the kitchen sink is partially seized and needs replacing.

I am going to get a plumber to do the job but what do I need to buy from Screwfix please?

I’ve included a photo below of what I have now.

I’ve seen ones with levers instead of rotary taps (if that’s the right term).

Are they better or less susceptible to seizing over time assuming it would be suitable for this?

Thanks :)

z4cVTJhl.jpeg
 
Last edited:
Thanks for the reply.

Gave it a good soaking with WD-40 and left it for a bit.

Turned on the cold water at the sink but turning the tap shown in either direction had no effect on water flow!

There was another tap beside it which I done the same with but same story (I assume was the hot water but done that anyway in case I got them mixed up).
 
That’s a gate valve. I’d just get the valve replaced. You're meant to open and close them frequently so they don’t jam in place.

As for bits to pick up, just get your plumber to do the job. He (or she) will have cuttings of pipe in the van as well as any fittings needed if they need to join/extend the pipe. They may have to cut the valve out if they can’t get any movement on the pipe to remove it from the compression fittings. Could end up having to get pipe, fittings etc just to be on the safe side, how far do you go?

I guess you could just pick up the stopcock they are less than a £5 though, seems like a bit of a waste of time to me. :D
 
Last edited:
Thanks very much for the replay fella!

I had considered any decent plumber would carry this in their van stock.

Now if it’s a female plumber, then the job has got more involved :D all sorts of plumbing jobs needing doing lol
 
If that really is the tap for your cold mains water then it really should be something different.
Gate Valves are not designed to be used for isolating mains water. Get a plumber in to turn the water off in the street and replace that gate valve with a proper stop tap and you'll be fine :)
 
Yeah it doesn’t seem a sturdy enough thing for isolating a mains water supply really!

I will mention to the plumber and hopefully they will bring the correct one with them.

Had been looking on screwfix but have not a clue about the sizes etc
 
Philtor said:
Yeah it doesn’t seem a sturdy enough thing for isolating a mains water supply really!

I will mention to the plumber and hopefully they will bring the correct one with them.

Had been looking on screwfix but have not a clue about the sizes etc
Click to expand...
Are you 100% that's not a gas valve? Have you definitely identified the right valve?
 
Last edited:
sigma said:
Are you 100% that's not a gas valve? Have you definitely identified the right valve?
Click to expand...

Gate Valves Most definitely should NOT be fitted to any gas pipework. But that gate valve isn't fitted to a gas pipe, the scale marks and pipe discolouration indicates a cold pipe forming condensation. ;)

Gas engineer, 30yrs and counting :p
 
FlyingFish said:
Gate Valves Most definitely should NOT be fitted to any gas pipework. But that gate valve isn't fitted to a gas pipe, the scale marks and pipe discolouration indicates a cold pipe forming condensation. ;)

Gas engineer, 30yrs and counting :p
Click to expand...
Ah I misread the other poster who said gate valve, I read it as gas.

Clearly haven't quite woken up yet.
 
I might try playing a heat gun on the valve to see if that helped free it up (when you are not using water)

Philtor said:
Turned on the cold water at the sink but turning the tap shown in either direction had no effect on water flow!
Click to expand...
presumably he doesn't mean the tap/wheel turns but has no impact on the flow eg the wheel is loose/decoupled in some way.
 
Yeah that was my main concern. If I had a burst pipe and couldn’t turn the water off.

Will get it seen to now in the better weather and a proper valve fitted instead of that Mickey mouse thing!
 
Philtor said:
If I had a burst pipe and couldn’t turn the water off.
Click to expand...
do you have a valve in the street too ? - that's on my list to find out what tool I'd need,

[
our cambs water board now have remote reading of meters and I'd like to know if you could get a weekly reading to determine if you have leaks,
dead toilet roll fell into exposed cistern recently that left a continuous flow into toilet bowl for a couple of hours
]
 
Yeah there is one directly outside on the footpath.

I suspect only qualified plumbers can buy the tool to open the cover but and close the valve if necessary.

Can’t imagine you would get the correct tool on the open market or fleabay.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom