Watched a few of your vids and you Sir are proper old school, thanks for sharing your knowledge. Your life skills shown here with this calm, well thought through process. Hats off to you fella, Merry Christmas 👍
Brilliant video glad you did it outside, but this does show it's not a gigantic drama if you have just a bit of confidence, thanks again.it also shows preparation before you start is so important..
Merry Christmas all you fellow plumbers especially those who are working through the holiday season. Have a good one. Thanks for keeping the country flowing with water, heating and gas.
As a complete novice aged 50, I used the Aladdin very successfully to shut off the hot feed to the kitchen. What surprised me, that didn't seem to get picked up on in others videos, is the strong kickback from the drill while using it - be careful, and get a good grip and drill slowly.
We have a stopcock in the pavement outside so I would suggest seeing if you have one as well. This makes it really easy to fit a new stopcock in your kitchen of course just turn it off in the street !
@gbjbasdw1. Unless of course you live in a terraced row of flats and the foolish council cowboys tarmacked over the Toby-main that serves all the flats ...
I use the squeeze off tool regularly Al, depending on the age of the MDPE pipe it is fairly successful but I've had a couple split which is not a big drama for a plumber - not good for the DIYER though. I've used it many times on old black Alkathene - that can be hit and miss 😬 I believe that using a lever valve as your main stop tap is not allowed by water regs as most stop cocks have a floating jumper which stops back syphoning, as you know normally a stop cock wont work if installed back to front. Great video Al 👍
Good video and a good demonstration of the technique. However, for those with a stopcock in a difficult access situation inside or under a kitchen cupboard would be brave to attempt and risk flooding and ruining their kitchen. If this was a planned, rather than an out and out emergency - I think the freeze solution is probably the more prudent option.
Its rare in the UK not to have a stop cock in the street. If it has been tarmaced over I would not start a new internal stop tap change until the water company has found it and made sure it works. A flood from working on a live high pressure water main would not be covered by insurance as it would be considered an error.
It's good how are honest that it's a different ball game in the real life situation.. under the sink confined space.. room to actually get this on quick.. Thanks for taking the time to make the video..👍☘️🇮🇪
Thank you! As Thames are ignoring my pleas to fix the water meter connection out in the street , this is how I'm going to have to replace the household stopcock before I can replace the taps.
My go to E-plumber. Great tutorials. I do have question. I have several lead pipes from the water mains pipe at the back of my house and need to connect one of them to a copper pipe. What is the best way to move forward. Cheers, and thank you for your tutorials. Greatly appreciated.
Used a similar method to repair a 2” galvanised main hit by a digger when working for the water board Many years ago, no one knew where it turned off, 2 pumps in the hole, 2” Viking Johnson, attached to a length of poly, cut through, fitted the coupling, then squeezed off, then could relax a bit and reconnect the other end (once we found it)
Watching this whilst having leaking Stop cock. and the getting the council to switch off the mains is impossible. I hope I can find a brave plumber who can do this job for me 😂 thank you for making this video, the comments you wrote about having done this many times is reassuring. It’s so stressful having to deal with this sort of stuff when part of it is out of your control.
I think most properties (UK) are fitted with water meters now and I believe these incorporate a valve so that you can isolate the property and thus make changing a stopcock a bit less messy?
Great demo! Wouldn’t fancy doing it myself though. In the first house I had, I tried to turn off the stopcock, wouldn’t budge, so heaved on it, and broke the spindle! No immediate problem as the water was still on in the house. Eventually got a “key” for the isolator in the street.
Very grateful to my water company for replacing their ancient stop cock outdoors with a modern plastic one with an easy to turn knob that turns the water off completely. Means I can change my sc without drowning the bathroom though to get to it I'd have to remove the WC.
I would check the label before using boss white. My understanding is that it is not for potable water as it provides a possibility of bacteria growth. There is a similar product called boss blue for potable.
My undersink stopcock is fine ordinarily, but when I need it closed it leaks quite a bit. Was curious as to the easiest way to replace it, now I know. Fortunately I am planning to replace the kitchen so I will be able to benefit from the fact that the sink unit will have been removed and the flooring will not have been installed.
I simply went outside the dwelling to the pavement and isolated the incoming supply from there ,.Took all of 2 mins to prise up the plastic lid with a flat screwdriver, remove the polystyrene insert and turn it off - jobs a good un.
Hope the insurance company is understanding if you do this indoors, never been happy doing live only 50 years to guide me .a colleague was going to cut a pipe live ,turned out to be hot 60 c in 4 seconds happy days
Hi Al and Jan ☺, a nice wet job mate,lol, mine under the sink is on a black plastic pipe ,would a modern stopcock fit to the compression nut on the plastic pipe, obviously I'll try to turn off out on the pavement first,lol. Cheers mate, stay safe, best wishe's to you both, Stuart Uk.
Have exactly this job to do but I have got an outside stopcock that I can turn off. The problem is it is the old black plastic I put a vernier on it and it is 17mm O/D but obviously, it is imperial. Care to guess what size it is it goes into metric 15mm? What are my options? Currently, I have to go outside to the waterboard stopcock. Hoping to replace it at least I have control of the supply.
My problem is, the stop cock in my house that doesn't work is directly attached (welded?) to the lead mains. I used an Alladdin isolater but had to use a socket set to even cut it in and it still seeps, so wasn't the perfect solution. Can't replace the lead incoming as it's a shared supply in a terrace.
Worth checking with your water company as they might have a free lead replacement scheme. You may even be able to get them to put a whole new supply line to your property even if the neighbours don't want to. Well worth checking online and speaking to them.
I wish you didn't open your taps to show how realistic the pressure would've been as during this obviously they were still flowing showing an unrealistic idea of what would be coming out the pipe after cutting. Other than that, top quality video as always
I actually turned the tap off when I cut the pipe. I did mention it in the written graphic. By the way, Opening the tap is mainly to reduce the initial pressure when you cut into the pipe. Standing pressure is greater than dynamic pressure
@@dereton33 AHH sorry must've missed that! I stand corrected! Seemed you have quite low flow and pressure in your home though, people should expect a lot more than this 🤣 but great video either way
Excellent video, much appreciated, this is another job that needs doing. i bought a tool to shut of the mains around where i live but i think it would start ww3 if i didnt inform them, so ive ditched that idea Thankyou for your advice.
I have to just ask because I am curious when was the last time you actually wiped a joint on an old lead main, and i wonder if this skill is possibly still out there, for us it was an everyday job back in the day,I think the last time i did it was about 25 years ago, and that was due to frustration when the brand you leadlock leaked on me, so i just binned it i never was that happy with them.
Just to mention if you fit the Aladin valve, which other videos make look really easy….make sure the drill you use has to power to do the job and cut the copper and force the cut out copper it into the keep, such a simple looking easy to fit device could cause so many headaches methinks. 😬
Hi Birdy. When I fitted a couple of these, to temporarily isolate part of a heating system, I used a 1/2” ratchet driver rather than a drill, and it worked fine, if a little slower.
Homeowners who have an interest in plumbing watch these videos and can make their own decisions. Those that are faint of heart on seeing the gusher once the pipe was cut will decide the job is not for them. Remember some homeowners may have more engineering experience than some plumbers and that some plumbers are less interested in plumbing than some homeowners!😉
I have to admit this is impressive, switching a stopcock whilst the flow is live takes some balls, in my case the inlet is a flexible blue poly-pipe hence I'm watching TH-cam videos...................and the council tarmac'd over my mains tap! F*cking w*nkers!
@@dereton33 I think you have a good point about the old school stop taps. I've decided not to buy anymore and just get M press ball valves. I got a call from a woman 1hr away in Liverpool that said the new stopcock I installed was leaking slightly from the stem. Luckily I managed to talk her through a quick fix on the phone.
@@aliasgharkhoyee9501 if the water is moving it's hard to freeze it. Before freezing a water mains you need to stop the flow really. It's usually ok if it's a bit of a drip but if it's a bad leak then it's likely not going to freeze while the water is moving. With mdpe mains you can use a pipe squeezer then freeze below the Squeeze, though with a lead one you would need a transition coupling with a bit of 15mm pipe and a new stop tap already fit in one end.
Remember opening the taps in the house does not reduce the pressure from the mains it only assists when you have got the new stop tap on by having more outlets to escape to.
You would but if that is stuck and an emergency you might not have a choice. But if the pavement one is stuck call the water company and they will fix it as it is their responsibility but it may take weeks for them to do the job.i had mine done recently, it took a few months as they had to replace the whole thing so they had to get permits for traffic lights etc. But now I have a brand new one installed at no expense to me.
This is for the poor unfortunates who`s outside stopcock does not work or cant be found. Some may turn off more than one property. Also some water authorities do not allow you to touch the outside stopcock. SO STEP BACK AND THINK.
One of the most useful plumbing videos I have ever seen. Thanks for this.
No problem. Thanks for the nice comment.
Great video Al Just reminded me why I HATE plumbing! A little spilt water goes a long way!
🤣🤦🏽♂️
Sure does.
Watched a few of your vids and you Sir are proper old school, thanks for sharing your knowledge. Your life skills shown here with this calm, well thought through process. Hats off to you fella, Merry Christmas 👍
I appreciate that! Happy Christmas to you too.
@@dereton33 and thanks for your advice this morning too 👍🙏
Brilliant video glad you did it outside, but this does show it's not a gigantic drama if you have just a bit of confidence, thanks again.it also shows preparation before you start is so important..
Absolutely
Merry Christmas all you fellow plumbers especially those who are working through the holiday season. Have a good one. Thanks for keeping the country flowing with water, heating and gas.
Thanks, you too!
Your a clever old boy with wisdom, don’t think they make them anymore like you.
Probably not James, ha ha.
As a complete novice aged 50, I used the Aladdin very successfully to shut off the hot feed to the kitchen. What surprised me, that didn't seem to get picked up on in others videos, is the strong kickback from the drill while using it - be careful, and get a good grip and drill slowly.
Thanks for the tip.
We have a stopcock in the pavement outside so I would suggest seeing if you have one as well. This makes it really easy to fit a new stopcock in your kitchen of course just turn it off in the street !
Thanks.
@gbjbasdw1. Unless of course you live in a terraced row of flats and the foolish council cowboys tarmacked over the Toby-main that serves all the flats ...
Love this young man ! More spare tips than a snooker cue 👌
For sure!
I love watching your videos they are very informative for me as I'm on my own 👏👏 x
Glad you like them! Thanks Sue.
I use the squeeze off tool regularly Al, depending on the age of the MDPE pipe it is fairly successful but I've had a couple split which is not a big drama for a plumber - not good for the DIYER though. I've used it many times on old black Alkathene - that can be hit and miss 😬 I believe that using a lever valve as your main stop tap is not allowed by water regs as most stop cocks have a floating jumper which stops back syphoning, as you know normally a stop cock wont work if installed back to front. Great video Al 👍
Thanks PB. I wont tell if you don`t ha ha.
Meeting black alkathene gives me the shakes lol.
Thank you Derek for sharing your knowledge, it really is very kind of you. Another great how to video
Glad it was helpful!
I bet Al was grateful as well 🤣
Good video and a good demonstration of the technique. However, for those with a stopcock in a difficult access situation inside or under a kitchen cupboard would be brave to attempt and risk flooding and ruining their kitchen. If this was a planned, rather than an out and out emergency - I think the freeze solution is probably the more prudent option.
Thanks for sharing. That`s why I showed all the options first Norman.
Its rare in the UK not to have a stop cock in the street. If it has been tarmaced over I would not start a new internal stop tap change until the water company has found it and made sure it works. A flood from working on a live high pressure water main would not be covered by insurance as it would be considered an error.
It's good how are honest that it's a different ball game in the real life situation.. under the sink confined space.. room to actually get this on quick.. Thanks for taking the time to make the video..👍☘️🇮🇪
I totally agree! Al the best Geoff
Thank you!
As Thames are ignoring my pleas to fix the water meter connection out in the street , this is how I'm going to have to replace the household stopcock before I can replace the taps.
Good luck!
You're training me to be a good maintenance plumber Al 🛠️🛠️🛠️🔨🔨✊✊
Right on, you are probably better than me anyway Paul, ha ha.
@@dereton33 no chance you're mentor!! tormenter
Nice one mate I’ve done a few live always gets the heart pumping 🤣
Same here
My go to E-plumber. Great tutorials. I do have question. I have several lead pipes from the water mains pipe at the back of my house and need to connect one of them to a copper
pipe. What is the best way to move forward.
Cheers, and thank you for your tutorials. Greatly appreciated.
You can get a fitting called a leadlock which converts lead to copper pipe It is a straight coupling.
Legend mate done this loads of times and got drenched doing it
Yes it is a wet job.
well done Al, was getting worried you`d all be washed away,
Ha ha so was I.
Used a similar method to repair a 2” galvanised main hit by a digger when working for the water board Many years ago, no one knew where it turned off, 2 pumps in the hole, 2” Viking Johnson, attached to a length of poly, cut through, fitted the coupling, then squeezed off, then could relax a bit and reconnect the other end (once we found it)
Nightmare stuff.
Watching this whilst having leaking Stop cock. and the getting the council to switch off the mains is impossible. I hope I can find a brave plumber who can do this job for me 😂 thank you for making this video, the comments you wrote about having done this many times is reassuring. It’s so stressful having to deal with this sort of stuff when part of it is out of your control.
This job is not for the faint hearted. So good luck.
I have baxi solo 2 pf the overheat lamp lights up and he does not want to turn on thanks for any help, pump ok work.
Check boiler pressure. Turn pump up another notch, or you have some sludge in the boiler.
I think most properties (UK) are fitted with water meters now and I believe these incorporate a valve so that you can isolate the property and thus make changing a stopcock a bit less messy?
Thanks for the info.
Great demo! Wouldn’t fancy doing it myself though.
In the first house I had, I tried to turn off the stopcock, wouldn’t budge, so heaved on it, and broke the spindle!
No immediate problem as the water was still on in the house. Eventually got a “key” for the isolator in the street.
Glad it worked out ok.
Great vid 👍 speed fit do nice lever valves now that look like the compression ones
Thanks Jaff.
Very grateful to my water company for replacing their ancient stop cock outdoors with a modern plastic one with an easy to turn knob that turns the water off completely. Means I can change my sc without drowning the bathroom though to get to it I'd have to remove the WC.
That`s good Al.
I would check the label before using boss white. My understanding is that it is not for potable water as it provides a possibility of bacteria growth. There is a similar product called boss blue for potable.
Thanks, been using it for 50 years no one dead yet that I know of.
did you get slivers of brass shards stuck in your fingers after re tightening with grips instead of a spanner
No.
The Aladdin product cuts copper and all plastics, and even lead (generally need a 1/2 inch rather than 15mm).
Thanks for the info Keith.
No chance on my set up lol I'll probably give it try still lol. Why is not going back to kitchen ? Or is that just got outdoor tap
It`s an outdoor tap connection.
@@dereton33 may sound a stupid question but why a stop cock for outdoor tap ?
That new stopcock will be very convenient for your window cleaner 😂
It`s ok I charge him by the bucket load, ha ha.
My undersink stopcock is fine ordinarily, but when I need it closed it leaks quite a bit. Was curious as to the easiest way to replace it, now I know. Fortunately I am planning to replace the kitchen so I will be able to benefit from the fact that the sink unit will have been removed and the flooring will not have been installed.
Good luck with it Darren.
Brilliant job.
Thanks Stephen.
Thank you very much for the information and help 👍🏿.
No problem 👍
Yet *another* TIP TOP video.
(Without the usual TH-cam faff)!!!!
Thanks again!
Very good video young man
Glad you enjoyed it
I simply went outside the dwelling to the pavement and isolated the incoming supply from there ,.Took all of 2 mins to prise up the plastic lid with a flat screwdriver, remove the polystyrene insert and turn it off - jobs a good un.
That is a luxury many do not have.
were we live we dont have a outside mains isolator......
Thanks for the upload and knowledge
You bet!
I used to have 'footprint' grips until my van got broken into and stolen,full bore lever valves are the way for instead of brass stopcocks.
I know it is just that the water regs do not like them as they have no non return valve.
@@dereton33 yes true mate,just fit n.r.v after stop valve,great video mate for ppl who don't know how to do job live.👍👍
@@mickobyobrien2650 Thanks for that tip
What do you mean by a “black main”?
Main not man.
Didn’t realise this could be done! Don’t think Boss White should be used on potable supply though.
You dont have to use it.
There are plenty of pastes that are suitable for potable. Jet Blue for example.
Thanks a lot.
No worries!
Amazing 👏 mate truly Expert job. 👏. Take care Godbless 💜 🙏
Thank you! Cheers!
Hope the insurance company is understanding if you do this indoors, never been happy doing live only 50 years to guide me .a colleague was going to cut a pipe live ,turned out to be hot 60 c in 4 seconds happy days
Don`t worry they have plenty of money. ha ha.
nice one, scary stuff but good to see the potential. Thank you.
You bet
Hi Al and Jan ☺, a nice wet job mate,lol, mine under the sink is on a black plastic pipe ,would a modern stopcock fit to the compression nut on the plastic pipe, obviously I'll try to turn off out on the pavement first,lol. Cheers mate, stay safe, best wishe's to you both, Stuart Uk.
The new stopcock wont fit, not on that old black plastic pipe.
@@dereton33 hi Al , thanks for the info, kind regards Stuart Uk.
I had my 💧💧💧🌊 suit ready and the gimp outfit for standby 😂😂
Ha ha thanks Paul.
Have exactly this job to do but I have got an outside stopcock that I can turn off. The problem is it is the old black plastic I put a vernier on it and it is 17mm O/D but obviously, it is imperial. Care to guess what size it is it goes into metric 15mm? What are my options? Currently, I have to go outside to the waterboard stopcock. Hoping to replace it at least I have control of the supply.
Used to be able to get a converter for that pipe to 15 mm.
@@dereton33 Thanks I'll a plumber's merchant
Philmac plastic stop cock should fit, without seeing job.
I do this often (cut live piped to install isolations).....I'm ALWAYS nervous when doing it!!!
Me too John.
My problem is, the stop cock in my house that doesn't work is directly attached (welded?) to the lead mains. I used an Alladdin isolater but had to use a socket set to even cut it in and it still seeps, so wasn't the perfect solution. Can't replace the lead incoming as it's a shared supply in a terrace.
A lead lock would be your best option.
Worth checking with your water company as they might have a free lead replacement scheme. You may even be able to get them to put a whole new supply line to your property even if the neighbours don't want to. Well worth checking online and speaking to them.
Why not turn the outside stopcock to the main supply off ?
Of course, but this video is for those that do not have one, or have to turn off two or three houses as well, to get it off.
I wish you didn't open your taps to show how realistic the pressure would've been as during this obviously they were still flowing showing an unrealistic idea of what would be coming out the pipe after cutting. Other than that, top quality video as always
I actually turned the tap off when I cut the pipe. I did mention it in the written graphic. By the way, Opening the tap is mainly to reduce the initial pressure when you cut into the pipe. Standing pressure is greater than dynamic pressure
@@dereton33 AHH sorry must've missed that! I stand corrected!
Seemed you have quite low flow and pressure in your home though, people should expect a lot more than this 🤣 but great video either way
Excellent video, much appreciated, this is another job that needs doing. i bought a tool to shut of the mains around where i live but i think it would start ww3 if i didnt inform them, so ive ditched that idea Thankyou for your advice.
Thanks for sharing
I have to just ask because I am curious when was the last time you actually wiped a joint on an old lead main, and i wonder if this skill is possibly still out there, for us it was an everyday job back in the day,I think the last time i did it was about 25 years ago, and that was due to frustration when the brand you
leadlock leaked on me, so i just binned it i never was that happy with them.
Hi Peter it would have been about 40 years ago.
35 years ago for me....
How about that simple job in a 3 rd floor apt. complex half way behind a wall!!!!!!!!!?
Humm maybe not so simple after all.
Just to mention if you fit the Aladin valve, which other videos make look really easy….make sure the drill you use has to power to do the job and cut the copper and force the cut out copper it into the keep, such a simple looking easy to fit device could cause so many headaches methinks. 😬
Good tip! Thanks Birdy.
Hi Birdy. When I fitted a couple of these, to temporarily isolate part of a heating system, I used a 1/2” ratchet driver rather than a drill, and it worked fine, if a little slower.
Thanks al.
Very welcome
Mines connected to lead, will I be able to freeze the lead pipe before changing stopcock?
Yes if you have room.
bloody good video gaffar
Thanks julie.
Lol you will have a load of water come back from the house too. I have changed the internals if its similar
That is true.
Always liked your videos not sure it’s a good idea telling homeowners how to change a stop to live. Very risky even for a professional like myself
If you have the confidence then you can take on anything. I used to change plenty of live stopcocks.
Homeowners who have an interest in plumbing watch these videos and can make their own decisions. Those that are faint of heart on seeing the gusher once the pipe was cut will decide the job is not for them. Remember some homeowners may have more engineering experience than some plumbers and that some plumbers are less interested in plumbing than some homeowners!😉
Very true Norman.
I have to admit this is impressive, switching a stopcock whilst the flow is live takes some balls, in my case the inlet is a flexible blue poly-pipe hence I'm watching TH-cam videos...................and the council tarmac'd over my mains tap! F*cking w*nkers!
Get on to the water company Andrew it is there responsibility for you to have a working outside tap.t
I agree👍@@dereton33
Top man!
Super!
Or.... You just get a wet vac, cut below the stopcock then use a pushfit stopend. After that you just freeze the pipe and put a new stopcock on it
You can indeed.
@@dereton33 I think you have a good point about the old school stop taps. I've decided not to buy anymore and just get M press ball valves. I got a call from a woman 1hr away in Liverpool that said the new stopcock I installed was leaking slightly from the stem. Luckily I managed to talk her through a quick fix on the phone.
Why not freeze the pipe before cutting into it? Less work and mess.
@@aliasgharkhoyee9501 if the water is moving it's hard to freeze it. Before freezing a water mains you need to stop the flow really. It's usually ok if it's a bit of a drip but if it's a bad leak then it's likely not going to freeze while the water is moving.
With mdpe mains you can use a pipe squeezer then freeze below the Squeeze, though with a lead one you would need a transition coupling with a bit of 15mm pipe and a new stop tap already fit in one end.
Remember opening the taps in the house does not reduce the pressure from the mains it only assists when you have got the new stop tap on by having more outlets to escape to.
Thanks.
nice one Derek 👍
Thanks 👍
Thanks. Impressive :)
Thanks Steve.
Have you opened the taps?
Errr, I was just about to say that,!
Shut just for this experiment.
Are you related to Red Adair or maybe you’ve been watching the movie ‘Hellfighters’ … 😉
My great, great, great uncle. Ha ha.
Why don't plumbers use proper spanners instead of using adjustable wrenches?
Prefer em.
professional plumbers do use proper spanners,
C02 freezer.
If you have room.
May I never have to do that.
Ours are still lead
I remember those .
Out of interest why wouldn’t you isolate the water at the meter in the pavement?
Some water company's do not allow you to touch them now.
You would but if that is stuck and an emergency you might not have a choice. But if the pavement one is stuck call the water company and they will fix it as it is their responsibility but it may take weeks for them to do the job.i had mine done recently, it took a few months as they had to replace the whole thing so they had to get permits for traffic lights etc. But now I have a brand new one installed at no expense to me.
@@dereton33 How would they know?
Ha.. cant do this inside then..
You can, I just new it would be impossible to film in my undersink cupboard.
@@dereton33 Brill.. but wasn't your wife filming !! And yes.. with the correct black bag anti moisture controls.. anything is possible.
Even better just turn off the main stop tap outside....
If you could do that then you would not need this.
Plumbing! Nightmare!! I will do it under duress though...I just know everything that can go wrong!!! Too much knowledge eh...?
Ha ha yes Craig.
I tell you what …………. I’ll just turn off the water ……….
Ha ha . Running scared .
Why don't you just turn the water off from outside the house at the meter , then drain the inside so there's no water mess
Not a lot of people have access to outside stopcocks
This is ridiculous. Just turn the water off.
This is for the poor unfortunates who`s outside stopcock does not work or cant be found. Some may turn off more than one property. Also some water authorities do not allow you to touch the outside stopcock. SO STEP BACK AND THINK.
@@dereton33 Risking this with mains pressure on the top floor of a block of flats is what I'm thinking about. At least one of us is.