burst lead supply pipe

[Neil T]

i've got a leak on the lead supply pipe as it comes into the house and was wondering where the cheapest place to buy some 28mm MDPE pipe would be from to replace it (if thats the best thing for the job)
I'm in Manchester area

 

[Phil_Plumb]

Your local plumbers merchant!

 

[dancinplumba]

Where is leak ? Fitting ? A hole in pipe ? Piccy pls

 

[Neil T]

leak is on pipe itself, just a little 2-3mm hole. (dont have pic sorry) i've got a leadloc and some other compression fittings, was just wondering about the pipe to replace it with. which would be best?

 

[dancinplumba]

Put self tapper into it as temp repair

 

[Neil T]

i've turned water off to the house til the morning. just need to make sure i get right pipe in and at a decent price

 

[lame plumber]

750 to 1350 mm deep remember (i think )

 

[Crinkmeister]

Do you mean 28mm or 20mm?

 

[Neil T]

its a dodgy old house, the lead pipe comes in at front of house and lies on concrete and rubble until it gets to stop tap (length of house). Apart from suggesting replacing the whole lot, i was just going to cut out where leak is and replace with plastic pipe ... cheap and cheerful

 

[dancinplumba]

Seltapper stainless last forever

 

[lame plumber]

lead locks arent that cheap

 

[Neil T]

lead pipe is around 25mm .. if thats possible? there is a length of plastic closer to where stop tap is where there must of been a leak before and its 28mm. not sure what pipe it is though (blue plastic) how much would that be per metre and what would it be?

 

[Crinkmeister]

You sure your MDPE is 28mm not 25mm? I didn't think you could get 28mm MDPE.

 

[Neil T]

couldnt reach it properly to get exact measurement so could be 25mm.

 

[Neil T]

so the mdpe would be suitable with compression fittings?

 

[Crinkmeister]

Need pictures or a diagram! MDPE is cheap -I'd be tempted to replace as long a length as I could. You can then sell the lead -which will probably cover the cost!!

 

[Crinkmeister]

Have you got MDPE going into stop tap? You can get leadlock to 25mm MDPE. Make certain you get correct size of leadlock - not all lead pipes are equal!

 

[Neil T]

sounds like a plan ... dont have pic sorry. That would be ok running from where it enters house upto stop tap at 25mm? And are screwfix cheapest about or could i get it cheaper elsewhere? I notice they do 50m for £25 at min

 

[Neil T]

No its about a 1m length where someones fixed a burst before. The lead seems to be around 25mm and have a couple of different size leadlocs just in case

 

[lame plumber]

havent seen any in screw/plumb fix, may be wrong

 

[Neil T]

MDPE Blue Pipe 25mm x 50m | NoLinkingToThis

is that the right pipe?

 

[Crinkmeister]

I can only say "probably" without seeing it. Don't you have a local plumbers merchant? - they are generally very helpful.

 

[Neil T]

Thanks for the the help lads. Managed to get some mdpe from a builders yard as merchants didn't have any. Got job done in hour and half which included wrestling with the anaconda mdpe under the floor for half an hour

 

[Crinkmeister]

Well done! Just keep an eye on the new joints for a day or so to make sure they aren't weeping.

 

[Neil T]

Thanks. Will check in next couple of days as house is other side of manchester and can't get over that way till then. They just need nipping up if they're weeping?

 

[Crinkmeister]

Usually that will do - if you're lucky!

 

[Neil T]

Went back to the house and the joints were weeping slightly but nipped them up a little and hope that's good enough

 

[Neil T]

i got £80 for the job, is that a fair price? i replaced lead pipe from entry to house to stopcock with mdpe, took me 2hrs (including wrestling with mdpe underfloor), initial call to turn water off and a call back to check joints. job was for my cuz so gave him discount, fair?

 

[kay-jay]

MDPE Blue Pipe 25mm x 50m | NoLinkingToThis

is that the right pipe?

In these situations any pipe is the right pipe. As long as you know what it is and buy the appropriate connectors and stoptap.

When you used the lead lock you did clean the lead with a shave hook? Likely to keep weeping otherwise....

 

[Neil T]

Dont own a shave hook but used what I had at hand, edge of flat head driver and my trusty stanley blade. Tbh didn't actually know about using one as never worked with lead pipe (hence this thread) but thought I'd clean it as copper and chrome needs to be cleaned to join thanks for info though

 

[kay-jay]

Well a shave hook is preferable. A cheap one from toolstation will suffice.
It smooth out the surface of the pipe whereas with a Stanley its much more difficult.
A smooth pipe is easier to seal without overtightening the lead lock. The rubber o ring seal is better against a smooth pipe

 

[ManchesterGas]

£80 seems a bit cheap to me, but if you are happy with it then that is all that matters!