Urgent - leaking stopcock and damp wall

[stargirl04]

Hi MNs, do I need to get a plumber out to fix this asap?

I have a leak and a nasty damp wall in my airing cupboard, which I've only just noticed - don't know how long it's been there but I only moved in 6 months ago (mortgaged flat) and haven't noticed it before.

My stopcock is leaking at the tap point itself. I've turned it slightly to the right a few turns and the leak seems to have slowed down but I am fearful of doing much else in case I cock up the water supply - I am totally clueless about this!

Please look at these pics and advise - many thanks!

Also, how much does anyone think it will cost me to correct the damp problem on the wall? Thanks!

As for the damp wall, the handyman said it would dry out as it was caused by the leak.

He told me to wash the floor and section of wall affected with bleach and water to kill the fungi and bacteria and once it dried out it would be fine.

The PP who told me to ring the freeholder, this was a huge help - thank you!! - as it was the freeholder who got the handyman to contact me, and he was very knowledgeable but said he never touched water or electrics. And now I have a recommendation from him for a plumber for future reference.

He also said that the dodgy looking cable running out of the wall is the earth cable, as a PP suggested, and is perfectly safe, and legal.

Thank God for Mumsnet. B&Q were useless and didn't sell that tape recommended by a PP - neither did the plumbing shop

Pigletjohn I also need to say a massive thanks. That video is just like my outside tap! I'm planning to fix it tomorrow. We've put up with it for years. Thank you!!!

The Stopcock is still dry and the damp floor and wall have almost dried out.
Piglet John is officially my knight in shining armour. Many, many, many thanks!!!

Piggychops - I hope you get that garden tap sorted out.

Actually, just one more thing, Piglet John, if you are still reading. For some reason I saw your second post first, tightened the nut, then later saw your first post in which you said the nut shouldn't be tightened fully.

I did tighten it as hard as I could so will this cause me any kind of problem? My water seems to be running normally. Once again THANKS!

well done, committee!

glad it was the earth cable, couldn't tell from the photo. And you now have help in your little black book in case of more problems.

it will wear out quicker, and start dripping again. Next time you may need to turn off the water in the road to remove pressure, take off the nut, wind up the spindle, wrap PTFE tape very tightly round the spindle, carefully slide the gland on without dragging the tape out of place, do up the gland finger-tight plus a quarter. This is ten times as much work as slightly tightening the nut.

A fairly new stopcock will have PTFE between the spindle and the gland, it does not need great force to leave a gap so small that water will not go through it.

The other point, brass being a soft metal and the gland quite thin, and the nut small, is that using force could break it or strip the thread, especially if you use a wrench longer than your fingers. Spanners are sized to be shorter for small nuts than for big ones, reducing leverage, to make it more difficult for the user to cause damage.

The cost of a stop cock replacement is so low is it worth mucking about with? I said old style plumbers used hemp round the shaft, I also said tighten the nut, I didn't surf for a video, I have down the years replaced several. It's a no big deal job, who wants to come home to a flooded house for the sake of a tenner and half hour labour diy or plumber?

Oh and when those old style plumbers used that technique, there were not the fancy kitchens and electrical appliances to be ruined either .

Tell the assessor from the insurance all about it when they check after the flood eh

If I was a food bank needy case then I might consider a bodge job bits of tape and old cobwebs

Cough

Hi Piglet John and thanks so much for your advice. I've only just managed to get round to making the adjustment to the nut that you recommend as it's been a very busy couple of days.

I let the nut back out till the water was coming through then have tightened it again incrementally to see at which point the water stops leaking. Now I am just waiting to see if my latest adjustment has worked.

Thanks so much - your advice is deeply appreciated.

Specialsubject - at "well done, committee". Thank you for recommending that I contact the freeholder, as their handyman was very knowledgeable and really put my mind at rest about that damp wall, which has now dried out