Outside stopcock help!!

[Tommc]

Evening everyone, im about to install a new stopcock inside the house and fit some new pipe work for a water softner, the old stopcock is totaly gone, is this the access to the stopcock outside my house, its at the end of the drive way and there seems to be one every 4 houses along, its a nightmare to try lift out, get about 6" up and then seems stuck, there is loads of muck around it and inside it but just wanted to make sure it just lifts and that its the right valve im trying to get at, any help will be appreciated, thanks

 

[Paulus]

Yes that looks like the right one. You will probably find that the hinge is full of muck which is preventing it from opening fully. Give it a good clean around the hinge with a stiff brush.

Be aware that you may be turning some of the neighbours water off if there is only one per 4 houses.

 

[Tommc]

Yes that looks like the right one. You will probably find that the hinge is full of muck which is preventing it from opening fully. Give it a good clean around the hinge with a stiff brush.

Be aware that you may be turning some of the neighbours water off if there is only one per 4 houses.

there is no hinge on it ?, its basically the whole unit thats coming out of the ground, should it just be a lid that lifts off ?

 

[Tommc]

this is basically as far as i can get it out the ground, and it is one complete unit going into the ground, no hinge or anything, i cant get anything done until i get the water off, if i manage to get this off will it be a special key required or just a tap if anyone knows ?

 

[Paulus]

I haven't come across that pear shaped one before but I suspect that the pear shaped bit is a hinged lid. Now I've seen the latest photos I'm certain that's a hinged lid.

 

[Tommc]

I haven't come across that pear shaped one before but I suspect that the pear shaped bit is a hinged lid.

i will have a run out and try cleaning around the pear shape but im pretty sure that was a solid unit, sort of like a stamp on it

 

[snowhead]

Looks like you're trying to lift the whole assembly out.
The lid is on the top the round / pearshaped part.

No way is it the whole lump to gain access.

 

[Paulus]

Give it a good clean, you're taking the whole unit out of the ground. There will definitely be an opening lid on it.

 

[snowhead]

Plenty of hammer will shift it.

 

[Tommc]

i did think it seemed a bit bizzare that it was whole unit, heading out now to try get at it, cheers gents will keep you updated thanks for your help

 

[Tommc]

nope its not budging in the slightest, this is not going to be easy to get off, the neighbour had his drive done so im hoping there is no concrete in there as i got the mud out but dudt appers when inm clearing it with the screw driver

 

[Ray Stafford]

Is anyone else expecting the Candid Camera team to be waiting in the bushes?

 

[Tommc]

haha yeah the neighbours are having a good laugh at me getting drenched, cant believe how difficult this is to open, anyone know what end the hinge it at, might be better off getting the kango out and digging up the pavement at this point, would hate to think if i had a leak the place would be swimming

 

[Paulus]

If it really is a no go get in touch with United Utilities, they should sort it for you.

 

[Tommc]

If it really is a no go get in touch with United Utilities, they should sort it for you.

just spoke to essex and suffolk water, they will arange for someone to come out to switch it off free of charge, but dont know when, so could be a long wait, still i would lioke to see how they get that lid off, tried the other one at the end of the street in case it was just the one outside my house and that was just the same

 

[PlumbBobBob]

it looks to me like you need a key to open the flap. also the hinge will be on the small end.

 

[Tommc]

it looks to me like you need a key to open the flap. also the hinge will be on the small end.

think i will have to admit defeat with it, hasnt budged at all, hate having to put doing things back to another day, a days annual leave wasted because i cant switch the water off, oh well a lesson learned i suppose

 

[PlumbBobBob]

no probs

 

[Tommc]

cheers for taking the time to try help me out gents, really appreciate it

 

[snowhead]

E & S won't even try and open it.
It'll be out altogether new sleeve and new lid.

And they might just throw in a free water meter**

 

[Tommc]

E & S won't even try and open it.
It'll be out altogether new sleeve and new lid.

And they might just throw in a free water meter**

not sure i like the idea of a water meter, she did say i am intitled to open it and switch it off, if i could open it that is

 

[Dannypipe]

Generally when they come out to sort out an external stopcock round my way (Kent & Sussex) they will fit a meter while they're at it. No charge of course!! Yeah thanks!

 

[Tommc]

Generally when they come out to sort out an external stopcock round my way (Kent & Sussex) they will fit a meter while they're at it. No charge of course!! Yeah thanks!

the wife rang and asked for them to fit one when we moved in 6 years ago and they refused point blank to give us one, so will find it strange if they now insist on fitting it

 

[stevetheplumber]

thats the normal type for london it lifts about 3 inches then spins left or right looks like you have lifted the whole unit rather than just the pear shaped bit

 

[Howsie]

Is this on your property or in the road or pavement?

 

[snowhead]

Is this on your property or in the road or pavement?

It can be anywhere you want it now by the looks of it.

 

[Dannypipe]

the wife rang and asked for them to fit one when we moved in 6 years ago and they refused point blank to give us one, so will find it strange if they now insist on fitting it

Bit strange. They love to fit them round here. Normally a good earner for them in the long run.

 

[Tommc]

thats the normal type for london it lifts about 3 inches then spins left or right looks like you have lifted the whole unit rather than just the pear shaped bit

Tried everything to get pear shaped bit up but the whole unit came out the ground, even cleaned all the dirt out the edges and sprayed wd40 and let it soak through but still nothing

 

[Tommc]

Ok so i rang the Essex and Suffolk water people today and will take up to a week for them to come out and switch off the water or replace the lids as they are prone to jamming, but she has told me i can switch the water off from the large stopcock directly in front of the fire hydrant, even if it switches off the water to all the neighbours, not sure they will be as accommodating, now i dont have a stopcock key but i did measure the size i will need and its 30mm square, so do any of you guys know where i can get one of these ?

 

[PlumbBobBob]

i've seen them on ebay