Main Stop Tap Coming Into The House Leaking

[beefcake01uk]

Whats the best way to repair this fault?

Do i have to turn off the main supply of water on the street to change the tap? Or can this be done any other way?
Will i need any special tools to shut the water off in the road?

Might sound an easy question but just want to make sure, thanks for any replys

 

[NickH]

Where is the stopcock leaking ? is it from one of the "end" nuts or from the shaft which you turn.

 

[dontknowitall]

IF it's coming up through the nut ....

1. Turn off tap.
2. Undo gland nut
3. Wrap poofta tape around shank a few times
4. Stuff tape down into tap
5. Tighten gland nut
6. Turn on tap

If fails, try again with more PTFE tape.

I wasn't too sure when I first did this, but practised on an outside tap first, just in case it all went wrong!

 

[Bernie2]

In the old days to repack a "stuffing box" they used pure wool and lanolin grease. Try a bit of hemp, that usually works, or as has been said PTFE. The thick stuff for gas may be better, not the virtual see through stuff at 2p a ton. Put a bit of silicon grease in with it. Remember though water is a food stuff and you drink a lot of it, so don't use anything that may pollute it.

And oh yes! Turn the tap on to undo the packing gland back nut, pack gland, tighten up and then make sure you can turn the stopcock on and off. In point it may just need tightening not repacking. Some taps have nitral rubber "O" rings in the gland, which you can replace, but its a bit more complicated to replace them and involves turning off the water and removing the tap top, breaking it down into its parts, replacing the rings and re assembling. Easy enough to do.

Anyway if you go to a website like B and Q or Wickes they usually show you how to do them better than I can explain. Its only a small job really and if your a bit handy you can probably easily do it, and learn about taps at the same time.