Water feed in flat conversion

[trevorbayliss]

This is a 1890 built semi and it was converted into 7 flats in 1985.

I have just started working on it today and i have found my stop tap. It is in the communal hallway.

The Stop tap is old and after turning, it does leak a little.

1) How can i remove the stop tap and replace with a new one? What sort of pipe work is it on ?

2) This pipe then turns into the wall and runs under the bedroom floor boards and then Tee's off left and right, running to feed a sink in the bedroom (dont need it) and left towards the kitchen and the bathroom. In the bathroom it switches from this bigger bore pipe to copper and the same happens in the kitchen.

3) I would like to remove this pipe and just run all the water from the stop tap in 15mm copper or plastic. Would this be a better thing to do or is this pipe work ok ?

Photos show the stop tap in the hall, the same pipe in the bedroom where it Tees off and under the bath.

 

[Deleted member 267285]

There should be another stopcock down below, or externally (which may do several flats). It would probably be best done in copper, but bore looks same.

 

[trevorbayliss]

Yes there is a master stop cock in flat 1's cellar, but all other flats have their own.

What pipe work is this ? Is it steel ? How do i change to copper and a better stop cock.

 

[Deleted member 267285]

Looks a bit like steel. Come off stopcock in copper, as for changing it, either pipe freeze kit, or turn off the other one.

 

[trevorbayliss]

Yes i can isolate the whole building easily enough. Just not sure what stop cock to use on this steel pipe. There is very little on the Tee bit before the current stop cock is. Will i have enough to fit a stop cock on there. Or would i need to cut out the steel T section and fit a new Compression T ?

Anyone know what size pipe this is or what products i need to adapt it all?

 

[Deleted member 267285]

If it’s only the gland nut leaking, then can you not just repair it? Or worst case, renew the innards of stopcock? Steel will probably be 1/2” male iron thread.

 

[trevorbayliss]

Ok, so will that stop cock just screw out then ??

If so i think you can get an adapter to screw in which has a copper 15mm tail on the other end.

Do you just fit with PTFE tape and screw in ?

 

[Deleted member 267285]

Yes should unscrew, and yes ptfe on threaded joint or paste. Could buy an adapter to join outlet end.

 

[trevorbayliss]

Can this steel come in 3/4" size ? It looks closer to a 22mm copper pipe, but i suppose that is because the steel is thicker.

It would be nice to screw in the correct adapter, then have a compression fitting to slot some 15mm in, then fit the stop tap and then run in plastic all around the flat.

 

[Deleted member 267285]

Yes, I think it’s classed as 20mm, but not 100%. The branch coming off to your stopcock should be 1/2” thread though.