The oven cleaner was very good and pointed out to us that we ought to do something about the grill element in the oven, which we never use as there is a grill in the top oven. It was covered in grease as we usually just use the oven on "fan".
So we switched on the extractor fan, shut the door to the hall, opened the back door and he gave it a burst of power. It smoked like mad! He said he sees this all the time. None of us could see the point of two grills in a double oven. None of the other oven cleaners had said anything about this before.
So from now on we'll be doing this every two weeks or so.
So we switched on the extractor fan, shut the door to the hall, opened the back door and he gave it a burst of power. It smoked like mad! He said he sees this all the time. None of us could see the point of two grills in a double oven. None of the other oven cleaners had said anything about this before.
So from now on we'll be doing this every two weeks or so.
Shock horror! My bruv has sold his poohheap of a house in Hull for the same price as others in the road. Did it within 10 days or so too!
Having last seen it in such a state we nearly wiped out feet on leaving .....
So he has done OK and is now able to afford, more or less a bungalow in Sutton.
But the shock to us is the prices.
3 bed, two recep, Edwardian terrace place, his, selling at £95 k. The bungalow he has his eye on selling at about £120k.
Considering that the bungalow opposite us sold this summer for a shade under £500 k.
House prices are so mad.
Having last seen it in such a state we nearly wiped out feet on leaving .....
So he has done OK and is now able to afford, more or less a bungalow in Sutton.
But the shock to us is the prices.
3 bed, two recep, Edwardian terrace place, his, selling at £95 k. The bungalow he has his eye on selling at about £120k.
Considering that the bungalow opposite us sold this summer for a shade under £500 k.
House prices are so mad.
Back to the plumbering struggle, enjoy the rest of the day folks!
Right, strap your laughing pants on, you're gonna need 'em.
I went back into the utility room, moved the "furniture" around so I could get to the plumbing.
I then attacked the stop-cock. At first it didn't want to move, to my knowledge it hadn't been turned since 1984, so not surprising, so I got a spanner hooked over the handle and, hup, it turned. Closed it right off, including finishing with a spanner.
Went outside to check that the outside tap was not letting water through it, sho nuf twas off,
So back in to move the bits around.
Started off by loosening the compression elbow on the end of the vertical cold pipe. (I was leaving the hot till later as I knew I could isolate that.)
I loosened it sufficient to see that it would turn, then loosened the other end of the elbow which had a bit of poly-pipe and an end/stop cap thing on it. I just wanted to turn it about 45 degs so that it was pointing towards the back of the unit, when lo and behold, as I was taking the nut off, whoosh, water spurted out at full mains pressure, together with the bit of pipe and its nut and olive.
Yep I can hear you laughing from here!
it was like the scene in Only fools and horses where the bolt holding up the wrong chandelier got loosened and knocked through.
So I'm feeling like the Dutch boy trying to hold back the water coming out of the dyke. With soaking trousers etc.
So I decided to struggle the pipe and nut etc back on, by a miracle I got it back on, against the pressure, and was able to tighten the nut and stop the flow.
So I take a mo and ask myself, "How the flipping heck did that happen?" Well I am sure you are all ahead of me.
A pipe comes out of the wall runs through a stopcock and then up to the the cold tap, the one for the washing machine and then back into the wall and out the other side to the outside tap.
Obviously not.
It must run out of the wall, up to the tap and the connection to the WM, then to the stop-cock and out to the outside tap.
I got the whole thing the wrong way round.
If I had any idea of how a stop-cock was set up internally and thus what does what in what direction I'd have known what I was doing, but to me a stop-cock was just a bit like an in-line tap. On closer inspection, there is a diagonal bit on the body of it and checking with the one under the kitchen sink, this should have told me which direction was the flow. I have never needed to fit a stop-cock nor play with one, so yep, today was another school day.
Fortunately I managed to stop the flow fairly quickly so although it soaked the floor and my tools, and various other things it only took me about an hour to tidy up.
So "wet weather" has now stopped play. It will resume once I have got a plumber in to fix/replace the stop-cock.
Hmmm. Do I hate plumberin more than tech? It is a close run thing..
At least this is the first time I have had full mains pressure causing a "leak". Easier fix than when I put a nail through a pipe under a sink in another kitchen. My last house and my ex and I were frantically catching water in buckets and emptying them until I worked out how to stop it.
I went back into the utility room, moved the "furniture" around so I could get to the plumbing.
I then attacked the stop-cock. At first it didn't want to move, to my knowledge it hadn't been turned since 1984, so not surprising, so I got a spanner hooked over the handle and, hup, it turned. Closed it right off, including finishing with a spanner.
Went outside to check that the outside tap was not letting water through it, sho nuf twas off,
So back in to move the bits around.
Started off by loosening the compression elbow on the end of the vertical cold pipe. (I was leaving the hot till later as I knew I could isolate that.)
I loosened it sufficient to see that it would turn, then loosened the other end of the elbow which had a bit of poly-pipe and an end/stop cap thing on it. I just wanted to turn it about 45 degs so that it was pointing towards the back of the unit, when lo and behold, as I was taking the nut off, whoosh, water spurted out at full mains pressure, together with the bit of pipe and its nut and olive.
Yep I can hear you laughing from here!
it was like the scene in Only fools and horses where the bolt holding up the wrong chandelier got loosened and knocked through.So I'm feeling like the Dutch boy trying to hold back the water coming out of the dyke. With soaking trousers etc.
So I decided to struggle the pipe and nut etc back on, by a miracle I got it back on, against the pressure, and was able to tighten the nut and stop the flow.
So I take a mo and ask myself, "How the flipping heck did that happen?" Well I am sure you are all ahead of me.
A pipe comes out of the wall runs through a stopcock and then up to the the cold tap, the one for the washing machine and then back into the wall and out the other side to the outside tap.
Obviously not.
It must run out of the wall, up to the tap and the connection to the WM, then to the stop-cock and out to the outside tap.
I got the whole thing the wrong way round.
If I had any idea of how a stop-cock was set up internally and thus what does what in what direction I'd have known what I was doing, but to me a stop-cock was just a bit like an in-line tap. On closer inspection, there is a diagonal bit on the body of it and checking with the one under the kitchen sink, this should have told me which direction was the flow. I have never needed to fit a stop-cock nor play with one, so yep, today was another school day.
Fortunately I managed to stop the flow fairly quickly so although it soaked the floor and my tools, and various other things it only took me about an hour to tidy up.
So "wet weather" has now stopped play. It will resume once I have got a plumber in to fix/replace the stop-cock.
Hmmm. Do I hate plumberin more than tech? It is a close run thing.
.At least this is the first time I have had full mains pressure causing a "leak". Easier fix than when I put a nail through a pipe under a sink in another kitchen. My last house and my ex and I were frantically catching water in buckets and emptying them until I worked out how to stop it.
Didn't giggle/snigger, no indeed, not once.Right, strap your laughing pants on, you're gonna need 'em.
I went back into the utility room, moved the "furniture" around so I could get to the plumbing.
I then attacked the stop-cock. At first it didn't want to move, to my knowledge it hadn't been turned since 1984, so not surprising, so I got a spanner hooked over the handle and, hup, it turned. Closed it right off, including finishing with a spanner.
Went outside to check that the outside tap was off, sho nuf twas off,
So back in to move the bits around.
Started off by loosening the compression elbow on the end of the vertical cold pipe. (I was leaving the hot till later as I knew I could isolate that.)
I loosened it sufficient to see that it would turn, then loosened the other end of the elbow which had a bit of poly-pipe and an end/stop cap thing on it. I just wanted to turn it about 45 degs so that it was pointing towards the back of the unit, when lo and behold, as I was taking the nut off, whoosh, water spurted out at full mains pressure, together with the bit of pipe and its nut and olive.
Yep I can hear you laughing from here!
So I'm feeling like the Dutch boy trying to hold back the water coming out of the dyke. With soaking trousers etc.
So I decided to struggle the pipe and nut etc back on, by a miracle I got it back on, against the pressure, and was able to tighten the nut and stop the flow.
So I take a mo and ask myself, "How the flipping heck did that happen?" Well I am sure you are all ahead of me.
A pipe comes out of the wall runs through a stopcock and then up to the the cold tap, the one for the washing machine and then back into the wall and out the other side to the outside tap.
Obviously not.
It must run out of the wall, up to the tap and the connection to the WM, then to the stop-cock and out to the outside tap.
I got the whole thing the wrong way round. If I had any idea of how a stop-cock was set up internally and thus what does what in what direction I'd have known what I was doing, but to me a stop-cock was just a bit like an in-line tap. On closer inspection, there is a diagonal bit on the body of it and checking with the one under the kitchen sink, this should have told me which direction was the flow. I have never needed to fit a stop-cock nor play with one, so yep, today was another school day.
Fortunately I managed to stop the flow fairly quickly so although it soaked the floor and my tools, and various other things it only took me about 3/4 of an hour to tidy up.
So "wet weather" has now stopped play. It will resume once I have got a plumber in to fix/replace the stop-cock.
Hmmm. Do I hate plumberin more than tech? It is a close run thing.
At least this is the first time I have had full mains pressure causing a "leak". Easier fix than when I put a nail through a pipe under a sink in another kitchen. My last house and my ex and I were frantically catching water in buckets and emptying them until I worked out how to stop it.
Actually it was more than twice.
Glad to hear that you have things back under control and your meds are working.
Didn't giggle/snigger, no indeed, not once.
Actually it was more than twice.
Glad to hear that you have things back under control and your meds are working.
I actooly LOLed at that!
As we say in Hull, "Worse things happen at sea."
Now does that thing remind me more of the Waltons or Pa and Ma Clampett!?Nice day here
Dry snd warm
Been for blood test, had breakfast in cafe
Moved some furniture on me pick up truck
Stay happy all
Seriously, i love it to bits.
Last edited:
Hippo
Lord Hippo
JFC worra mess. Have yer gorra nuff lights?
Stone56
Well-Known Member
One thing with a old stopcock you must watch out for is the internal rubber washer can disintegrate or pop of its backing plate should really operate them every year with some silicone grease on the shaftRight, strap your laughing pants on, you're gonna need 'em.
I went back into the utility room, moved the "furniture" around so I could get to the plumbing.
I then attacked the stop-cock. At first it didn't want to move, to my knowledge it hadn't been turned since 1984, so not surprising, so I got a spanner hooked over the handle and, hup, it turned. Closed it right off, including finishing with a spanner.
Went outside to check that the outside tap was not letting water through it, sho nuf twas off,
So back in to move the bits around.
Started off by loosening the compression elbow on the end of the vertical cold pipe. (I was leaving the hot till later as I knew I could isolate that.)
I loosened it sufficient to see that it would turn, then loosened the other end of the elbow which had a bit of poly-pipe and an end/stop cap thing on it. I just wanted to turn it about 45 degs so that it was pointing towards the back of the unit, when lo and behold, as I was taking the nut off, whoosh, water spurted out at full mains pressure, together with the bit of pipe and its nut and olive.
Yep I can hear you laughing from here!
So I'm feeling like the Dutch boy trying to hold back the water coming out of the dyke. With soaking trousers etc.
So I decided to struggle the pipe and nut etc back on, by a miracle I got it back on, against the pressure, and was able to tighten the nut and stop the flow.
So I take a mo and ask myself, "How the flipping heck did that happen?" Well I am sure you are all ahead of me.
A pipe comes out of the wall runs through a stopcock and then up to the the cold tap, the one for the washing machine and then back into the wall and out the other side to the outside tap.
Obviously not.
It must run out of the wall, up to the tap and the connection to the WM, then to the stop-cock and out to the outside tap.
I got the whole thing the wrong way round.
If I had any idea of how a stop-cock was set up internally and thus what does what in what direction I'd have known what I was doing, but to me a stop-cock was just a bit like an in-line tap. On closer inspection, there is a diagonal bit on the body of it and checking with the one under the kitchen sink, this should have told me which direction was the flow. I have never needed to fit a stop-cock nor play with one, so yep, today was another school day.
Fortunately I managed to stop the flow fairly quickly so although it soaked the floor and my tools, and various other things it only took me about an hour to tidy up.
So "wet weather" has now stopped play. It will resume once I have got a plumber in to fix/replace the stop-cock.
Hmmm. Do I hate plumberin more than tech? It is a close run thing.
At least this is the first time I have had full mains pressure causing a "leak". Easier fix than when I put a nail through a pipe under a sink in another kitchen. My last house and my ex and I were frantically catching water in buckets and emptying them until I worked out how to stop it.
Stone56
Well-Known Member
Hippo
Lord Hippo
Nope. He dun't do cards. It would upset edgar. He were 10.You noughty boy hope you sent a card
Hippo
Lord Hippo
Kent: Warnings over Christmas tree-eating beetle
The eight toothed spruce bark beetles are blown across the Channel into Kent from mainland Europe.
www.bbc.co.uk
Hippo
Lord Hippo
Is yer still er sheep? Yer ain't bin back.
'Tis a fine looking vehicle. Although it is lacking in mud. Needs an oinker to get it into condition
Damned foreign beetles, coming over here and eating all our Christmas trees.
Kent: Warnings over Christmas tree-eating beetle
The eight toothed spruce bark beetles are blown across the Channel into Kent from mainland Europe.www.bbc.co.uk
I operate the main one twice a year, it is only now that it seems to be playing up.
It stands to reason that it is one part of a plumbing set of equipment that people don't play with!
I have to assume that to repair it you have to shut the main off at the valve in the street/pavement next to the meter.
Which is why this is one of the few jobs I will leave to a pro. Much to my disgust as I do usually do everything around the house.
The plumber who did look at it a few years back did what you said, but he never looked ofr any internal rubber, he just backed off the nut, shoved some grease in then tightened it up.
