Stopcock

[warchild75]

Hi all, Have recently moved into our lovely big victorian house but as you may see on other forum topics it has a few problems as most victorian houses do!! I am about to fit a mixer shower which I have done before and have no issue with but there is an issue with the stopcock, I have looked through the survey and found that it is located in a panel in the downstairs toilet wall, I have tried to attach a photo but cant figure it out, have added it to albums though so you should be able to see it and am assuming it is the big square drive tap, I need to turn it off to fit the shower taps and have tried a good set of grips on there after a few days of wd40 and it doesnt want to turn, obviously I dont want to force it so am wondering what the next step is, I need to know if this is defo the stopcock and what to do next, Dont want any flooding accidents!! thanks.

 

[willsgas]

You may have a stopcock outside in the street or pathway.

 

[warchild75]

I thought there might be but dont know how easy they are to turn off!!?

 

[HERTS P&D]

Undo the gland nut, then try a pair of mole grips on the spindle, but be gentle. I done one today and it worked ok.

Once it is opening and closing then refit the gland nut, you may have to put a few turns of PTFE tap as a new packing gland.

Andy

 

[warchild75]

Ok I have decided to turn off the supply in the street, it is a single supply to my house only so wont be turning off the neighbours water!!, It has a fairly new looking meter and a white plastic tap about 12 inches down with a cut out in the middle of it, What can I use to turn it off, I begrudge paying £20 for a universal key!! Any ideas?

 

[HERTS P&D]

Your Hand?

Andy

 

[Agile]

Is this a white plastic hex plug with a slot in the middle?

Mine was like that with a key inside but then Thames Water seem to have removed all the keys from the street !

I have made something to fit.

 

[warchild75]

LOL thanks, if I didnt have a slight phobia with massive spiders then I would willingly put my hand in there!!! it is like a small white plastic tap with a v shape groove in the centre!!, Might try some long nose pliers, Just wondering if anyone had made something and what they made it out of??

 

[Phill Peck]

Just cut a notch in the end of a bit of wood

 

[Whitespirit66]

If that internal stop tap is knackered, sometimes better to replace, or if difficult, put a new one above and leave old one in situ. Obviously you need the water off outside first.

Sometimes external stop taps have the handles missing. Maybe a neighbour's has a handle inside that you can borrow. Or ask them what they use to turn it off.