Quizzes & Puzzles0 min ago
Mains stopcock
8 Answers
Had a plumber out this week (we have a service/breakdown agreement) He wasnt able to do the job as A) our mains water stopcock is jammed and B) The stopcock out in the street that supplies our house had a ants nest in and full of rubbish so he couldnt turn off the supply (I'm sure an old school plumber wouldve handled that!)
As far as A is concerned, its not covered on our agreement so will cost us 110GBP to get a new stopcock fitted in our house. Fair enough. But obviously he cant do this until B has been rectified. He said we'll need to speak to our local water board.
Will this cost us to get done? TBH if its their responsibility they can do it but if it costs I'm sure I can shift an ants nest and bit of debris.
As far as A is concerned, its not covered on our agreement so will cost us 110GBP to get a new stopcock fitted in our house. Fair enough. But obviously he cant do this until B has been rectified. He said we'll need to speak to our local water board.
Will this cost us to get done? TBH if its their responsibility they can do it but if it costs I'm sure I can shift an ants nest and bit of debris.
Answers
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Just wanted to agree with what everyone has said.
I seriously worry about some of these "breakdown/service" agreements. So many exclusions. ........ plus a captive audience who they can charge what they like for a little job like this.
110 Knicker to replace a stopcock? Buried in concrete is it Boolders???
I seriously worry about some of these "breakdown/service" agreements. So many exclusions. ........ plus a captive audience who they can charge what they like for a little job like this.
110 Knicker to replace a stopcock? Buried in concrete is it Boolders???
I have suffered a ‘frozen’ stopcock – undoubtedly due to it not being adjusted over its entire life.
My fix was to spray WD40 around the stopcock shaft and leave it to penetrate overnight. The following day I used a large pair of pliers (to give me a mechanical advantage) to free the stopcock.
Remember not to use too much force – otherwise you will discover other exclusions that apply to your service/breakdown agreement.
My fix was to spray WD40 around the stopcock shaft and leave it to penetrate overnight. The following day I used a large pair of pliers (to give me a mechanical advantage) to free the stopcock.
Remember not to use too much force – otherwise you will discover other exclusions that apply to your service/breakdown agreement.
My most common problem when doing plumbing repairs... 'Is turning the water off'...
If access was possible, the plumber could have froze the pipe while he fitted a new stopcock.
...Why would your water company send someone out to remove an ants nest..?
If your stopcock in the street has a nest, I'd have had a go at smashing the head of the stop cock key through it. They are usually very dry and break up easily.
Give it a few minutes while the ants go berzerk.
Then wrap a bin bag round your arm and scoop the remains out.
If that stop cock happens to be seized... then and only then... will your water company get involved.
If access was possible, the plumber could have froze the pipe while he fitted a new stopcock.
...Why would your water company send someone out to remove an ants nest..?
If your stopcock in the street has a nest, I'd have had a go at smashing the head of the stop cock key through it. They are usually very dry and break up easily.
Give it a few minutes while the ants go berzerk.
Then wrap a bin bag round your arm and scoop the remains out.
If that stop cock happens to be seized... then and only then... will your water company get involved.
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