Mains Supply Advice

[Bugsyroo]

Hi all,

My first post is a bit of an arduous one, but hopefully someone can offer me a little advice!

We moved into our house about 4 months ago and the water flow was really low. Three separate plumbers all suggested that Thames Water should replace our external stopcock. They have finally done that but it made no difference - if anything it made it worse. Thames water came back and checked. They couldn't detect a leak in our supply pipe and suggested it was our internal stopcock. One of our plumbers came round today and said our mains pipe has a leak and our stopcock is fine (although it dribbles/leaks a bit after being turned). Apparently replacing a mains pipe costs thousands and it goes under the house....

What at should I do?

Thanks in advance

Bugsy

 

[Destroyer2813]

If you have a meter outside turn the internal stopcock off and if meter spins your incoming main has a leak if no spinning no leak, has anybody checked the pressure and flow of the main ?

 

[Ermintrude]

If you have a meter outside turn the internal stopcock off and if meter spins your incoming main has a leak if no spinning no leak, has anybody checked the pressure and flow of the main ?

Get a mole man in for a quote , it's less than you think. To renew but as above it could all be in sin if mains in street is rubbish. Is your supply a lead one?

 

[PlumbersMate]

Could be faulty Pressure Reducing Valve

 

[Bugsyroo]

Hi there

thanks for the quick reply. Unfortunately we don't have a meter. Thames water checked both the pressure and flow on their initial visit (from the kitchen tap) and observed the pressure at 4bar and the flow at 8 litres per minute.

 

[Ermintrude]

4 bar and 8 lpm? Small dia pipe me thinks!

 

[Bugsyroo]

When the water comes out of the tap - if no other water's been used for a minute or so - there's a burst of water for around 5 seconds then it reduces to a very weak flow

 

[Bugsyroo]

Mole man?!

 

[SafeGasInstall]

Have another plumber in again to take reading as near as posible to internal stopcock ! If reading gives you higher flow rate then replace valves , is there a filter on your kitchen mixer that could have been blocked from dirt when mins stopcock was done !

 

[Bugsyroo]

We're hopefully getting someone else in over the weekend. Don't think the mixer taps the problem as the same symptoms occur on our outside tap, in the cistern of our downstairs loo, in our shower and (from what I can hear) in tank in the loft.

 

[Ermintrude]

Mole man?!

http://www.moleuk.com/
Not the cheapest or one I use but easiest to find on google. Be loads of self certified chaos in your area.

 

[PlumbersMate]

We're hopefully getting someone else in over the weekend. Don't think the mixer taps the problem as the same symptoms occur on our outside tap, in the cistern of our downstairs loo, in our shower and (from what I can hear) in tank in the loft.

Have you got a Prv or an unvented cylinder?

 

[Bugsyroo]

I'm afraid I don't know what either of those are.

 

[tamz]

4 bar and 8 lpm? Small dia pipe me thinks!

Only 8 l/pm on 4 bar is a seriously bad flow rate. You would get more water through the inside of a bic pen.
You have no option but to bite the bullet and replace the service if you want decent water.
If the old one goes under the house there are other ways.
Speak to a local plumber (a decent one)

 

[Bugsyroo]

Is it definitely not the leaky stopcock?