HELP! Leaking pipe type thing.

[Shia]

Under the bathroom sink there are two sets of pipe work, the one on the left is fine but the one on the right is dripping out of the end type thing.

I know NOTHING about pipes or plumbing.

I went to B&Q and was assured that this putty type stuff plumbers mate would do the trick. It's absolute crap, a waste of £5.99. It did nothing.

Please help, the drips are becoming faster. I have no idea where stopcock is and even if I did, I probably wouldn't be able to do anything as in a previous property a plumber lifted up where the stopcock was and there was loads of spiders!

What so I need to buy or stop this, please?

buy a plumber but in my experience anything dripping needs to be dealt with by a pro

Plumber.

In the meantime, put a bucket under it. Not urgent as long as you aren't dripping on the floor.

does it have a thread for screwing things onto? You may need a blanking cap or something similar (or a plumber)

oh i got a cap thing for my washing machine hot pipe that was leaking like that, what's the pipe for, did you have a bidet?

No idea why the pipes are like that. They are the same either side, presumably one for hot and one for cold.

I will have a look on the B&Q website for a blanking cap and then go down there later as I have to wait in at the moment for a parcel.

There are cap ends available but some say they have to be soldered.

Looking at the damn thing, I can't understand why there is nothing on the end of the things, it's bloody asking for trouble?!

we got a cap end put on to the hot water inlet under the sink as most washing machines are cold fill now. It wasnt soldered on, just screwed on.

Thank you everyone.

As a matter of interest, does anyone recognise this kind of pipe work?

I've googled and can't find another bathroom sink with anything that looks like this. They all have similar but different pipe work to mine.

it is a drain cock, for letting water out of the pipe when you want to work on the plumbing. Put a bucket under it. A hose pipe will fit on the spigot so you can lead it into the WC or bath or out through the door.

The square in the end is for opening and closing it. Possibly someone has loosened it. A very small adjustable spanner will enable you to tighten it.

There is a rubber washer inside, these do eventually perish, but usually last 20 years or so. Sadly they are not a standard size. If tightening it does not cure the drip, you will have to find the stop-cock and turn off the water, then run the tap until it stops, then unscrew the square until the plug and washer come out, then take it to a proper plumbers merchant and see if they have one to fit. You might be able to buy an identical drain cock and screw the new plug and washer into your old cock. The plug from a different one might not fit. You might possible have to undo a knurled ring which prevents the plug coming out. You cock is soldered to the pipe so you will not be able to take it off and solder a new one on. Soldering wet pipes is difficult/impossible though plumbers know how to dry them.

Or find a well-recommended local plumber.

Plumbers mate, sealant and silicone are 100% inappropriate and useless for this problem. The screw is not the seal, the rubber washer is.

p.s.

A cap nut, or stop end, will not help.

Thank you piglet Jon.

The hosepipe idea is genius!

The only thing I can slide in to catch the drips has been a slim watering can!

The house is modern, no older than ten years.

I've got an adjustable spanner and turned the square rod thing but it did nothing to stop drip. I tried the spanner around everything else and nothing else would turn!

I don't know where stop cock is and wouldn't be able to get to it anyway.

Is there nothing I can cap the end with?

Thank you.

Just seen your post about cap end!

dutch boy's finger.

Ask your neighbours where their stop cock is, if they have a similar style house.

Chances are its in the garage, if attached to the house, the downstairs toilet, cupboard under the stairs, under kitchen sink - that kind of place.

or if you have a water meter, there will be a stopcock on the side of it, usually a blue plastic "T" handle.

Middle, I am separate from the rest of the close.
It's a bit of a ToyTown affair with each property different to the others.

Mine is completely different, it's a coach house.

I am on a water meter Piglet John but have no idea where the meter is. I'm off to look.

Thank you.

I know I sound a complete fool but up til now there has always been a man in my life to sort these things out.

water meter probably in pavement close to your boundary, probably a plastic hatch about 6 inches across, might be black or blue, might have initials "TW" (Thames Water) or your local equivalent.

You can open it with the back of an old teaspoon, or a very large screwdriver, and look down with a torch. There may be ants or rainwater inside. You can bale out 6the rainwater with a cup or ladle.

I looked everywhere but couldn't locate it. Will try again tomorrow. I've rigged up the hosepipe for now, genius idea for which I'm very grateful.

I did find a small black box at the side of my house which I have never noticed before. It says key safe. I've put a spare key in it so that we won't be locked out! I've been leaving a spare key under a pot but my daughter doesn't like the idea of creepy craw lies being underneath!

I shall call a plumber on Monday.