Ninehigh
|
| posted on 16/11/10 at 12:12 PM |
|
|
Fixing a leaking tap
Anyone know how to fix a tap that's leaking from the bit where you turn the water on and off? Problem is it's the tap that turns the house
water on and off...
|
|
|
|
|
prawnabie
|
| posted on 16/11/10 at 12:20 PM |
|
|
Turn the stopcock off outside and replace the tap.
|
|
|
r1_pete
|
| posted on 16/11/10 at 12:22 PM |
|
|
if its a stop tap like the one below, give the gland nut (arrowed) a nip up, it squeezes a fibre seal against the shaft and a nip will often stop a
weep.
Image deleted by owner
|
|
|
BenB
|
| posted on 16/11/10 at 12:27 PM |
|
|
As said get a spanner on the nut near the spindle and tighten it. Otherwise it'll mean turning off the main stopcock on the perimeter of the
property and then doing it that way but it's a PITA unless you've got some kind of freezing kit because it'll mean draining down the
whole cold water feed.
|
|
|
daviep
|
| posted on 16/11/10 at 01:30 PM |
|
|
If tightening the gland doesn't stop the drip,
1:close the stop cock
2: back the gland nut right off slide and it up the spindle out the way
3: put a few wraps of ptfe tape around the spindle (below the gland nut) not too tightly
4: slide gland nut and ptfe back down the spindle
5: nip the gland nut up very gently
6: open stop cock
7: if there is still a drip nip the gland nut up a bit more.
“A truly great library contains something in it to offend everyone.”
|
|
|
cliftyhanger
|
| posted on 16/11/10 at 02:00 PM |
|
|
If it is all seized (happens a lot IME) then you will need to replace the tap. They really need turning off and back on every now and again. Thesedays
I replace with peglar 1/4 turn lever valves, full bore ones. They seem to be pretty good.
I avoid the unbranded cheaper ones, saving a couple of squid can be a false economy
|
|
|
Ninehigh
|
| posted on 16/11/10 at 02:37 PM |
|
|
The stop tap will turn on and off, but that gland nut won't move. Hopefully we've got the right stop tap outside (can only see one about)
which way does it turn off btw cos the kitchen tap has been running for about 20 mins now and nothing's happening..
|
|
|
r1_pete
|
| posted on 16/11/10 at 02:41 PM |
|
|
clockwise
|
|
|
Ninehigh
|
| posted on 16/11/10 at 02:58 PM |
|
|
Yeah stoptap outside isn't doing a thing...
|
|
|
r1_pete
|
| posted on 16/11/10 at 04:05 PM |
|
|
As long as it is beyond your boundary that is the local water authorities responsibility.
|
|
|
cliftyhanger
|
| posted on 16/11/10 at 05:24 PM |
|
|
is it a plastic tap thing outside? these seem to just rotate, but turn off every 1/4 turn.
A place I own didn't even have a stopcock outside. Took the waterboard a few weeks to come along and fit one (and fix the leak their side)
|
|
|
Ninehigh
|
| posted on 16/11/10 at 05:40 PM |
|
|
quote:
Originally posted by cliftyhanger
is it a plastic tap thing outside? these seem to just rotate, but turn off every 1/4 turn.
A place I own didn't even have a stopcock outside. Took the waterboard a few weeks to come along and fit one (and fix the leak their side)
Yeah there's a plastic tap thing, but doesn't matter which way or how much we turn it nothing changes...
So now we've told the water people, who are coming out "today" which in my experience means I'll ring them thursday and tell
them to get their f**king a***es out NOW
|
|
|
macc man
|
| posted on 16/11/10 at 06:25 PM |
|
|
If its a combined meter and stop tap you will probably find the handle has rounded off where it goes into the boss. you can usually move it with
pliers. Happens all the time.
|
|
|
JoelP
|
| posted on 16/11/10 at 07:06 PM |
|
|
daviep is correct, you dont need to isolate the outside supply.
When you turn off the inside stop tap, you can completely remove the gland nut, and only a small trickle will come out. The gland nut is to seal the
shaft, not to hold it in! Re pack it and you should be sorted. We do this often.
|
|
|
JoelP
|
| posted on 16/11/10 at 07:09 PM |
|
|
quote:
Originally posted by r1_pete
As long as it is beyond your boundary that is the local water authorities responsibility.
I may be wrong but im pretty sure they have an obligation to supply a point of isolation, so it doesnt matter what side of the boundary its on.
Ninehigh, if you do need the waterboard out, tell them there is a baby or elderly person in the house. You get faster service.
|
|
|
Ninehigh
|
| posted on 16/11/10 at 09:11 PM |
|
|
The gland nut is a bit rounded, wouldn't move...
Water board guy came out, turns out we were turning next door's water on and off all day!
I'll have a go at fixing it when it's off 
|
|
|
McLannahan
|
| posted on 16/11/10 at 09:33 PM |
|
|
quote:
Originally posted by Ninehigh
The gland nut is a bit rounded, wouldn't move...
Water board guy came out, turns out we were turning next door's water on and off all day!
I'll have a go at fixing it when it's off
Classic - hope they weren't having a shower at any point!
|
|
|
Ninehigh
|
| posted on 19/11/10 at 09:04 PM |
|
|
Well "fixed"
I hope!
New tap, old one is fubared and about 30 years old.
I'm just praying the damp there is condensation (warm kitchen, very cold water) and not leaking
Also the pipes bang somewhere now if you have the kitchen tap on full and shut it off quick, oh well no big deal on that one
Thanks for the help
|
|
|
