subject: Plumbing Advice For The Holidays [print this page] Getting the chance to go on any holiday is an exciting time for anyone. Whether it is going for a short break to Europe or going to the warm tropical island get away.
We always ensure that we have all our holiday essentials covered: - Passport - Money - Suntan lotion - Travel insurance - Camera - Lock up the house properly
In all this excitement, we occasionally overlook the most straightforward things like making certain the taps are switched off correctly. On your return from vacation looking well bronzed and relaxed, you enter your house to find that your floor is totally soaked in water and the first human instinct is to panic.
After the plumber has left and you have paid him with your last pound from your checking account as you are so skint coming back from vacation ( which we are get ), you are left with the alarming question to oneself, "why didn't I believe to double check the taps?"
These are some of my suggestions to make sure that your vacation remains notable for the right reasons.
Please read advisory note before following the procedures for turning off your mains water supply.
- Isolate mains water feed to property. To do this, you have to know where your mains water supply stopcock is ( if in doubt contact a plumber or neighbor ). They are sometimes found under the kitchen sink except for older properties like in London, they're frequently found under the staircase on the ground floor.
- After you have found the mains water stopcock to property, you want to switch it off which regularly is simpler to say than to do. These stopcocks are usually of a brass construction and have a tendency to seize extraordinarily simply.
- you'll need to first spray the stopcock with WD forty or some other kind of lubricator. If you do not have WD forty or an identical lubricant ( which is preferred ) you may use normal cooking oil ( that is it, standard cooking oil but watch out or you could make a complete mess by utilizing this option ).
- Once you've sprayed / lubricated the stopcock, it's going to be less complicated for you to switch it off.
- You want to switch it off in a clockwise direction ( don't OVER TIGHTEN ).
- If the stopcock is stiff to turn off, you will need to be VERY CAREFUL as mentioned above, these stopcocks are often made of brass or other similar soft metals and YOU DO NOT want it to snap.
- As you turn a little clockwise, it frequently becomes terribly stiff to turn by hand, STOP turning clockwise and turn the tap anti-clockwise to loosen it, re-spray / lubricate again and repeat prior action. Every time the action is repeated, you will be able to turn the stopcock more
- Switch on the kitchen tap ( cold water only ) and after a couple of seconds the water should stop. That is IT!
Advisory Note: If in any doubt, contact a qualified plumber. Do not as mentioned above, over-tighten the stopcock otherwise this could snap in the shut position leaving your property permanently without water. You should not have to use any tools other than your hands and some lubricant as mentioned above. If you cannot turn the mains water supply off by hand, contact a qualified plumber.
If all the above are done, then you should not have any surprises when you get home.
James Watts is a guru in finding a respectable plumbing company particularly if it is in an Emergency.
