Any plumbers? How much to replace a lead rising main pipe?

[rumbelina]

Homebuyers survey reported water pipes as "the rising main is in lead and should be replaced with copper or alkathene as lead can fail and be a health risk"

I have absolutely no idea where this pipe is or what replacing it entails, does anyone have any idea how much this might cost?

Will be cashing in the lead if possible to help pay for it...

Although I don't think you get very much!

Do you mean the mains water pipe from road to house? If so, I have had them replace in the last 2 houses I have lived in. They don't look for the old one, just dig a trench and put the new one in.

I think so - how much did it cost, approx? Thanks.

It was difficult to find anyone who wanted to do it! In the end we found a bloke with a digger to dig the hole, and a plumber to come and connect both ends. It was quite a long trench, as it went across the front garden, down the side, and round the back (detached house), it was a 50 metre pipe, which cost about £70. The man and digger was £300, and the plumber was about £100.

Speak to your water company first before employing your own plumber. I had a lead water main in a house I bought in London and when I said I had a baby, Thames Water replaced both the outside road main and the pipe in the house for free. This was some years ago and I had to nag a bit: they said it was safe as it is a hard water area and the pipe would be coated in limescale on the inside. I asked them to confirm in writing that the pipe was safe for a baby and the next thing they offered to replace it.

Homebuyers survey is a bit OTT IMHO.

I used to work for a water company and we have a lead water pipe. Our local water company do free lead tests. So you can get your water tested every few years and see what the level is. They'll advise you whether or not the levels are safe. Ours is fine and I've not replaced it.

I think its a good idea to replace the pipe if you are going to be spending money on landscaping, a new drive etc. Our pipe this time was leaking, so had to be replaced. Although the cost of replacement was £500, if we had any hard landscaping, it would have cost thousands. Luckily that job has yet to be done!