Owning your own home

50 years old!!

I'm not sure. The closest reference I can find online is a service manual for a similar model dated 1973. I might have a newer or older version. Maybe it's only 40?

Says IDEAL E type RS 100N on the tin. It seems some parts are still available and it mostly works.

Stuck my head under the floor to have a look. Obviously found an internal water feature. Shared lead water pipe trickling into the the ground for who knows how long just before it connects into the house pipework.

Do I need to really harass my neighbours about changing this as United Utilities are suggesting? They seemed to suggest it's shared responsibility for the entire pipework but that doesn't sound reasonable. Unless the repair is going to involve replacing the entire run of pipework, which I also figure people will tell me to gtf. Shall I just get someone in to fix the leak and continue to drink my lead? Any experience with this much appreciated.

It won't be fuel efficient but its also easy to sort, get someone out to look at it. If its the gas valve you can still get them but really there isn't much in em.

Water update. Lead water pipe runs through my property but I'm not connected to it, looks like it services other houses on the row. No forbidden water for me. Still my disaster to fix as advised by United Utilities.

Worryingly the water is pissing out right by the external wall brickwork - so whomst knows for how long / what horrors lie beneath.

Managed to clamp a cut up bit of tyre (RIP Conti contact speed) which has just seemed to slow it slightly. I could tighten further but I'm paranoid about the thing shearing / making worse as I can't isolate the supply. For now I empty buckets periodically crawling under the boards hoping that the plumber I spoke to arrives..

Wouldn’t worry about it shearing, old lead pipes are like 5 or 6mm wall thickness. Shitter man, hopefully it’s a relatively simple fix for a plumber.

Cancel that read your previous post now!

Yeah I just figured it's been down there for 100yrs already. Probably should be err on sound of caution before I create my own basement pool. I'm sure the insurance plumber temporary fix will be to simply do what I've done with more conviction. At least if it all pisses out they might be able to freeze /stop the pipe and buy more time before the house floats away.

Don't think UU have that right, as it's the responsibility of the people connected on a shared supply.

Yeah but unclear how I go about ascertaining who's connected to that pipe. I'd need to get everyone on the street to check under their house, explain to them they are responsible for maintaining it and get them to pay for it. I probably wouldn't get very far with that. However if it comes back to costing a fortune I guess I/the insurer will need to go down that route.

Admiral insurance emergency plumber has turned up.erc. Stuck his head into the hatch, made his excuses about having to consult with the insurer and left. Fuck sake man if this thing got worse I'd be shafted.

Yeah but unclear how I go about ascertaining who's connected to that pipe

Get your plumber to cut it and cap it. Tell the neighbours and whoever hasn’t got any water can pay to fix it. Fuck paying for someone else’s utilities.

Our outside tap has sprung a leak from being frozen overnight. For the life of me I can’t work out where the shut off valve might be and wondered if anyone could offer any ideas? Or is it a case of it could be anywhere?

The water pipe feeding the taps comes up from under the garden and the stop cock to the house doesn’t shut it off, so it’s a separate valve.

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This pls this do this

I’d you are really desperate you could shut off the water at the meter…if you have one

You probably have a valve in the street or on your front path - open and turn clockwise with a square key I think

Thames Water guidance.

Middle aged thread

Yep, we can turn it off at the street. It also turns off next doors water, but can do it for a short while.

Once the water’s off can someone tell me what I need to replace in this pic? I’m clueless I’m afraid

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There will be a plastic nut under that rubber collar, it may just need tightening.

If that doesnt work undo the three screws that hold the tap to the wall, undo the plastic nut under the rubber cover and pull the tap off the end. Either the blue pipe is split (cut it back, fix the tap a bit higher) or the plastic insert in the end of the blue pipe is broken (get a new one) or the nut is broken (get a new one). All available off the shelf at your nearest builders merchant for pennies.

Probably buy a tube of LSX while you're there.

Thanks all

Also look at lagging the pipe and getting a tap cover.

And if the external valve on the street turns off your neighbours water check you aren't paying their bill.

I've went down with a hammer as a back up to smash the lead closed over if it gets biblical down there whilst cranking another hose clip on it for now

I'd feel bad fucking people over for water in winter by going down this route and capping it off Plumber 2 who attended suggested Fibrefix, failed. Still awaiting plumber 1 to reconvene with the Admiralty as to what they are going to do for me. I think next time I'll go with a more expensive insurer..

Get your plumber to cut it and cap it. Tell the neighbours and whoever hasn’t got any water can pay to fix it. Fuck paying for someone else’s utilities.

Unless there's an easement over the property for the water supply.

@Pmccee - your conveyancer should have picked this up, or it may be on the land registry.

If it's not - cap the fucker.

There could, I guess (IANAL etc... and I could be million miles from being right) be an inferred easement, as it's been there forever. In which case, don't cap it, but do charge the neighbours.

And if the external valve on the street turns off your neighbours water check you aren't paying their bill.

Good shout

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