installing kitchen sink + taps, no stop valves under the sink?

R B Customs · 14 Apr 2010 at 11:59

Hi guys,

just need to know what the state of play is going to be here:

We're putting in a new sink, keeping the old tap. The main water supply is easy to get to and no problem to turn off, but how does this effect the kitchen taps in a typical setting? there are no valves to isolate the taps under the sink.

is it just a case of turning off the water main, then running the taps dry? or do I have that horribley wrong? I'm expecting there to be water still left in the short supply lengths under the sink, but is it likely to come gushing out from elswhere in the house? should we run all the other taps dry too?

thanks

Rick

PiKe · 14 Apr 2010 at 12:04

Just keep a bucket to hand.

markweatherill · 14 Apr 2010 at 12:35

Depends how the hot supply is wired up. I mean, plumbed in.

If the hot comes from a cylinder tank or something, there should be a stopcock for that probably nearer the cylinder.

PhillyDee · 14 Apr 2010 at 12:38

Yes, keep a bucket and a big sponhe handy. Running the taps will get rid of the pressure, but not the water.

mangobreeder · 14 Apr 2010 at 16:57

turn off the water at the mains, drain teh system, and then drain the imersion heater, job done

if you have a water meter installed there is usually a off button there

bledd · 14 Apr 2010 at 17:10

turn off the main source, then 'empty' both taps

R B Customs · 14 Apr 2010 at 17:27

it's a combi boiler up in the loft by the way. I dont knwo why there are not vlaves under the basin... should there be?

so okay, I get what you mean about the pressure will be lost, but the waterm will not be. does this mean there is a massive chance of fail happening?

Raumarik · 14 Apr 2010 at 17:44

There aren't usually especially on older houses as isolation valves cost money to put in and don't benefit plumbers who know where the stop **** is. Have a hunt for it, it'll be around somewhere. Mine is under the bath, at the most bloomin annoying spot possible

Dj_Jestar · 14 Apr 2010 at 17:49

Having stop valves after the hot water tank/boiler is dangerous I hear. Though having said that... that's exactly what a tap does?!

St0rmer66 · 14 Apr 2010 at 18:01

Dj_Jestar said:
Having stop valves after the hot water tank/boiler is dangerous I hear. Though having said that... that's exactly what a tap does?!

You heard wrong.

Lopéz · 14 Apr 2010 at 18:09

I have a slightly odd setup at home - there is a stop tap (literally a tap) as our stopcock in the street controls all 3 houses in our terrace, this shuts off the mains. Then I have 2 valves under the kitchen sink - 1 for cold, 1 for hot. After turning off the cold and hot water I run the taps then drain the valves as otherwise all that water in the pipes will leak out under the kitchen unit.

bullit in head · 14 Apr 2010 at 18:13

turn off water. open sink tap, then open tap above to drain the water out. simples, by tap above I mean sink up stairs on the same circuit

to add if you turn off the supply to the hot water cylinder, there should be no need to drain it ,as the negative pressure in the cylinder should stop water flowing through to the taps, again open bottom tap then open top tap as well, to drain the supply pipes to the taps your working on.

bullit

Fuzz · 14 Apr 2010 at 19:41

You could be uber geeky and hire a freeze kit..

Freeze the pipes prior to installation, insert stop taps, remove freeze kit

St0rmer66 · 14 Apr 2010 at 19:48

Scubascorpion said:
You could be uber geeky and hire a freeze kit..

Freeze the pipes prior to installation, insert stop taps, remove freeze kit

That is so needlessly over the top for what is a VERY SIMPLE JOB.

It takes all of 2 minutes to turn off the water and open all the taps in the house, that's literally all that needs to be done. Yes there will be a bit of water caught in some of the pipes, but it will not be under ANY pressure and can easily be contained with a bucket/drip tray/towels. when the individual taps are disconnected.

To the OP: Just turn off the main stop tap for the house and open all your taps, that's all that needs to be done, having a combi boiler makes it even easier as turning off the cold main also isolates the hot taps too. Nothing to worry about AT ALL.

Fuzz · 14 Apr 2010 at 20:11

I know that... Hence why I said uber geeky... or did you miss that bit.

R B Customs · 15 Apr 2010 at 00:44

Job is a good'n!!
The pipe work was a bit of a mess under the sink, cut a lot of it away, and replaced with suitable flexi-hoses. It's a neater job than it was in the first place. There's an issue matching the old waste pipes up with the new sink but I know what I need. Glad we didn't have a plumber in, deffo a DIYable job.

As for the water, I already new where the main stopcock is. Removing some parts of the old pipes obviously meant some spilled water, but that was easily dealt with. It was all well and good until my mam flushed the toilet, which pushed some water out the pipes!

Anyway, thanks for the help guys!! Job done,gas man is booked to do the hob!! That's a job Best left to the pros!