Hi

I had a new pump fitted but the plumber said he couldn't renew the
valves as neither of us knew where the gas stop cock was and he was
worried about causing a flood. He said he had fitted the pump to
prevent valve leakage. However there is some leakage around the top
and bottom valves. Question - what is a gas stop cock? I thought
that by turning off the mains water supply from the kitchen this would
prevent a flood by turning on the taps and running the tank (direct
feed hot water system) till it was empty. Was the plumber just
wanting to do a quick fix rather than drain and refill the system?
Please help in a non-technical way.

"david" wrote in message
ups.com...
Hi

I had a new pump fitted but the plumber said he couldn't renew the
valves as neither of us knew where the gas stop cock was and he was
worried about causing a flood. He said he had fitted the pump to
prevent valve leakage. However there is some leakage around the top
and bottom valves. Question - what is a gas stop cock? I thought
that by turning off the mains water supply from the kitchen this would
prevent a flood by turning on the taps and running the tank (direct
feed hot water system) till it was empty. Was the plumber just
wanting to do a quick fix rather than drain and refill the system?
Please help in a non-technical way.


He was just being lazy. The gas valve has no bearing on the job
whatsoever. draining down and refilling is time consuming and risk of
airlocks on refilling etc so customersmight feel peeved at a large bill for
the hours when all that appeared to be done was a valve change. If he
managed to change the pump without a flood then the valves were working ok
so no need to change them really.

Pump should cost about £40 vat inc and 30-45 mins work to fit, re-wire and
check for leaks, bleed etc.
How much did he charge out of interest?

Bob

On 3 Mar, 17:45, "Bob Minchin" wrote:
"david" wrote in message

ups.com...

Hi

I had a new pump fitted but the plumber said he couldn't renew the
valves as neither of us knew where the gas stop cock was and he was
worried about causing a flood. He said he had fitted the pump to
prevent valve leakage. However there is some leakage around the top
and bottom valves. Question - what is a gas stop cock? I thought
that by turning off the mains water supply from the kitchen this would
prevent a flood by turning on the taps and running the tank (direct
feed hot water system) till it was empty. Was the plumber just
wanting to do a quick fix rather than drain and refill the system?
Please help in a non-technical way.

He was just being lazy. The gas valve has no bearing on the job
whatsoever. draining down and refilling is time consuming and risk of
airlocks on refilling etc so customersmight feel peeved at a large bill for
the hours when all that appeared to be done was a valve change. If he
managed to change the pump without a flood then the valves were working ok
so no need to change them really.

Pump should cost about £40 vat inc and 30-45 mins work to fit, re-wire and
check for leaks, bleed etc.
How much did he charge out of interest?

Bob

Thanks bob
Total cost including call out, new pump and fitting £156.
Incidentally should I worry about the very slight leakage or should I
get the plumber to come back and fit the new valves

In article . com,
"david" writes:
Hi

I had a new pump fitted but the plumber said he couldn't renew the
valves as neither of us knew where the gas stop cock was and he was
worried about causing a flood. He said he had fitted the pump to
prevent valve leakage. However there is some leakage around the top
and bottom valves. Question - what is a gas stop cock? I thought
that by turning off the mains water supply from the kitchen this would
prevent a flood by turning on the taps and running the tank (direct
feed hot water system) till it was empty. Was the plumber just
wanting to do a quick fix rather than drain and refill the system?
Please help in a non-technical way.

Where did you find this plumber? Sitting on a bar stool?
Sounds like he didn't have a clue what he was doing.

--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]

"david" wrote in message
ps.com...
On 3 Mar, 17:45, "Bob Minchin" wrote:
"david" wrote in message

ups.com...

Hi

I had a new pump fitted but the plumber said he couldn't renew the
valves as neither of us knew where the gas stop cock was and he was
worried about causing a flood. He said he had fitted the pump to
prevent valve leakage. However there is some leakage around the top
and bottom valves. Question - what is a gas stop cock? I thought
that by turning off the mains water supply from the kitchen this would
prevent a flood by turning on the taps and running the tank (direct
feed hot water system) till it was empty. Was the plumber just
wanting to do a quick fix rather than drain and refill the system?
Please help in a non-technical way.

He was just being lazy. The gas valve has no bearing on the job
whatsoever. draining down and refilling is time consuming and risk of
airlocks on refilling etc so customersmight feel peeved at a large bill
for
the hours when all that appeared to be done was a valve change. If he
managed to change the pump without a flood then the valves were working ok
so no need to change them really.

Pump should cost about £40 vat inc and 30-45 mins work to fit, re-wire and
check for leaks, bleed etc.
How much did he charge out of interest?

Bob

Thanks bob
Total cost including call out, new pump and fitting £156.
Incidentally should I worry about the very slight leakage or should I
get the plumber to come back and fit the new valves.

David,
Slight leaks tend to fix themselves so I'd be tempted to keep and eye on
them. Perhaps tie an old towel around the leak. This will soak up the water
and then evaporate dry when the heating is on.

Bob

On Sat, 03 Mar 2007 18:35:32 GMT, "Bob Minchin"
mused:


"david" wrote in message
ups.com...
On 3 Mar, 17:45, "Bob Minchin" wrote:
"david" wrote in message

ups.com...

Hi

I had a new pump fitted but the plumber said he couldn't renew the
valves as neither of us knew where the gas stop cock was and he was
worried about causing a flood. He said he had fitted the pump to
prevent valve leakage. However there is some leakage around the top
and bottom valves. Question - what is a gas stop cock? I thought
that by turning off the mains water supply from the kitchen this would
prevent a flood by turning on the taps and running the tank (direct
feed hot water system) till it was empty. Was the plumber just
wanting to do a quick fix rather than drain and refill the system?
Please help in a non-technical way.

He was just being lazy. The gas valve has no bearing on the job
whatsoever. draining down and refilling is time consuming and risk of
airlocks on refilling etc so customersmight feel peeved at a large bill
for
the hours when all that appeared to be done was a valve change. If he
managed to change the pump without a flood then the valves were working ok
so no need to change them really.

Pump should cost about £40 vat inc and 30-45 mins work to fit, re-wire and
check for leaks, bleed etc.
How much did he charge out of interest?

Bob

Thanks bob
Total cost including call out, new pump and fitting £156.
Incidentally should I worry about the very slight leakage or should I
get the plumber to come back and fit the new valves.

David,
Slight leaks tend to fix themselves so I'd be tempted to keep and eye on
them. Perhaps tie an old towel around the leak. This will soak up the water
and then evaporate dry when the heating is on.

Items of heating equipment aren't designed to have towels wrapped
round them. If it leaks, get the installer back to check and advise,
he has a responsibility to do so, especially as you were charged a
reasonable amount of money for this.
--
Regards,
Stuart.