I think , I do not know , its just a think , that I may have a leak in my
mains coming into my house. This think is based on a number of issues with a
dripping tap in the kitchen CW ( refitting washers and still taps drip a
couple of days later) and the fact that when I flushed the tap pipe I have
got gravel out on two occasions now, despite cleaning the tap system. Fixed
stop cock washer but still dripping ( again). There is a peculiar hiss (
only audible in the bathroom when the windows are open unfortunately).

So, really I dont know if I have a leak or not!
Anyone know how I can find out without digging up a 300 long x 20 wide (
yards) driveway ( best guess as to where the pipe in runs somewhere right
through the middle). There is no sign anywhere of water leaking as such.

Also have been told water board may be able to locate the leak if it exists
but does anyone know how much they are likely to charge me?

In general , anyone been here and had this problem?

"mich" wrote in message
...
I think , I do not know , its just a think , that I may have a leak in my
mains coming into my house. This think is based on a number of issues with
a
dripping tap in the kitchen CW ( refitting washers and still taps drip a
couple of days later) and the fact that when I flushed the tap pipe I
have
got gravel out on two occasions now, despite cleaning the tap system.
Fixed
stop cock washer but still dripping ( again). There is a peculiar hiss (
only audible in the bathroom when the windows are open unfortunately).

So, really I dont know if I have a leak or not!
Anyone know how I can find out without digging up a 300 long x 20 wide (
yards) driveway ( best guess as to where the pipe in runs somewhere right
through the middle). There is no sign anywhere of water leaking as such.

Also have been told water board may be able to locate the leak if it
exists
but does anyone know how much they are likely to charge me?

In general , anyone been here and had this problem?

If the water company (no boards for a decade or so) discover you have a leak
on yr side of their stopcock then they are likely to inform you they will
cut you off with x days if not fixed.
Get the company's stopcock for your house, normally in the street, turned
off for a short while to see if the hissing stops; if it does then you have
to pay for the fix on your side.
Friend had to dig 30' of front garden down 2' to expose pipe so it could be
replaced. Pipe is cheap but labour is not. Water Co connected new pipe to
their stopcock for no charge. This was in Essex..

"BillV" wrote in message
...

"mich" wrote in message
...

If the water company (no boards for a decade or so)

I am old! Hence water board, but I do know they are now companies.


discover you have a leak
on yr side of their stopcock then they are likely to inform you they will
cut you off with x days if not fixed.
Get the company's stopcock for your house, normally in the street, turned
off for a short while to see if the hissing stops; if it does then you
have
to pay for the fix on your side.
Friend had to dig 30' of front garden down 2' to expose pipe so it could
be
replaced. Pipe is cheap but labour is not. Water Co connected new pipe to
their stopcock for no charge. This was in Essex..

I have an added problem now.Since the morning I have dug down outside the
house where it comes into the stop cock and found it is iron pipe. This must
be water pipe since I have no other mains coming in ( electric overhead and
no gas at all) .

The main road stop cock is a very old one ( still has water board written
on it). However, the break might be on my side ot it might be in the lane
and I cant tell. There are also three stop cocks before you get to the
house. One in the road, one in the lane and one outside my kitchen door.
There is a fourth that feeds the outside ( now ex) prep room and outside
loo.
Either way I guess I am going to have to renew the lot since I dont think
you can repair or patch into iron pipe?

Anyone can give the definitive answer on this.

By the way my house is 1950's rural smallholding bungalow. I have the plans
but I cant see water mains marked on it.

"mich" wrote in message


Either way I guess I am going to have to renew the lot since I dont think
you can repair or patch into iron pipe?

You have poor quality water supply and that is not your fault so get the
water board or whatever the criminals that gained pecunary advantage
under the cons are called these days to fix that. If they find a leak
you only have yourself to blame for making waves. You don't seem to have
more proof of a leak than the symptoms of tinitis.

If the situation is causing low pressure the fault may still be in the
supply. One thing for sure is that the leaking taps have nothing to do
with the pipes they fit on. That is most likely due to their seats being
worn. More especially if they are grinding on detritus not H2O.

If you are an illegal immigrant with no husband and 25 kids they will be
around in a flash to fix it whatever the problem. If you are an elderly
war hero with a VC and 25 campaign medals, forget it.


--
Posted via Mailgate.ORG Server - http://www.Mailgate.ORG

"Michael Mcneil" wrote in message news:533c8a35261790091fba446227a3bcf1.45219@mygat e.mailgate.org...
"mich" wrote in message


Either way I guess I am going to have to renew the lot since I dont think
you can repair or patch into iron pipe?

You have poor quality water supply and that is not your fault so get the
water board or whatever the criminals that gained pecunary advantage
under the cons are called these days to fix that. If they find a leak
you only have yourself to blame for making waves. You don't seem to have
more proof of a leak than the symptoms of tinitis.

If the situation is causing low pressure the fault may still be in the
supply. One thing for sure is that the leaking taps have nothing to do
with the pipes they fit on. That is most likely due to their seats being
worn. More especially if they are grinding on detritus not H2O.

If you are an illegal immigrant with no husband and 25 kids they will be
around in a flash to fix it whatever the problem. If you are an elderly
war hero with a VC and 25 campaign medals, forget it.


I discovered a leak years ago in my old house, when it was quiet I
could hear a definite hiss.Suggest you make sure everything to do with
your water supply is turned off then go to any pipes outside (near the
stopcocks?) you can get at, hold one end of a wooden or metal rod to
your ear and place the other end on the pipe, you should be able to
hear if any water is running. My leak was caused by a lead pipe
settling over a brick and splitting.

"mich" wrote in message
...

"BillV" wrote in message
...

"mich" wrote in message
...

If the water company (no boards for a decade or so)

I am old! Hence water board, but I do know they are now companies.


discover you have a leak
on yr side of their stopcock then they are likely to inform you they
will
cut you off with x days if not fixed.
Get the company's stopcock for your house, normally in the street,
turned
off for a short while to see if the hissing stops; if it does then you
have
to pay for the fix on your side.
Friend had to dig 30' of front garden down 2' to expose pipe so it could
be
replaced. Pipe is cheap but labour is not. Water Co connected new pipe
to
their stopcock for no charge. This was in Essex..

I have an added problem now.Since the morning I have dug down outside the
house where it comes into the stop cock and found it is iron pipe. This
must
be water pipe since I have no other mains coming in ( electric overhead
and
no gas at all) .

The main road stop cock is a very old one ( still has water board
written
on it). However, the break might be on my side ot it might be in the lane
and I cant tell. There are also three stop cocks before you get to the
house. One in the road, one in the lane and one outside my kitchen door.
There is a fourth that feeds the outside ( now ex) prep room and outside
loo.
Either way I guess I am going to have to renew the lot since I dont think
you can repair or patch into iron pipe?

Anyone can give the definitive answer on this.

By the way my house is 1950's rural smallholding bungalow. I have the
plans
but I cant see water mains marked on it.



Iron pipes can be repaired/patched. The main supply pipe in our lane has
been patched many times. That is the problem with repairing old pipe it is
just a matter of waiting till the next leak starts.

To find a leak a listening rod is a very effective tool. You could make one
up yourself quite easily. A crow bar with a 3" metal plate tacked to the
blunt end makes a serviceable tool. The plate is held covering one ear and
the other end is pressed onto the ground near to where the pipe is. Then
move the device to where the leak sounds loudest. You can now use it as a
probe and if close to the leak it will penetrate easily.

It is not always necessary to dig up for a complete pipe run. Water
companies and some private contractors use mole machinery. The ground
surface is only disturbed with a smallish hole every 25 yards or so. The
mole being re-aimed from there to the next one.

If the leak is on your property get several quotes for the work. Your water
company will give you a price over the phone based on so much per metre plus
connecting. This will give you a starting point for judging other quotes.
They will be wide ranging and you may even get "special offers for cash if
done at the weekend".

Richard.

On Fri, 9 Jul 2004 20:13:36 +0100, "mich" wrote:


"BillV" wrote in message
...

"mich" wrote in message
...

If the water company (no boards for a decade or so)

I am old! Hence water board, but I do know they are now companies.


discover you have a leak
on yr side of their stopcock then they are likely to inform you they will
cut you off with x days if not fixed.
Get the company's stopcock for your house, normally in the street, turned
off for a short while to see if the hissing stops; if it does then you
have
to pay for the fix on your side.
Friend had to dig 30' of front garden down 2' to expose pipe so it could
be
replaced. Pipe is cheap but labour is not. Water Co connected new pipe to
their stopcock for no charge. This was in Essex..

I have an added problem now.Since the morning I have dug down outside the
house where it comes into the stop cock and found it is iron pipe. This must
be water pipe since I have no other mains coming in ( electric overhead and
no gas at all) .

The main road stop cock is a very old one ( still has water board written
on it). However, the break might be on my side ot it might be in the lane
and I cant tell. There are also three stop cocks before you get to the
house. One in the road, one in the lane and one outside my kitchen door.
There is a fourth that feeds the outside ( now ex) prep room and outside
loo.
Either way I guess I am going to have to renew the lot since I dont think
you can repair or patch into iron pipe?

Anyone can give the definitive answer on this.

By the way my house is 1950's rural smallholding bungalow. I have the plans
but I cant see water mains marked on it.


Sir

Its not too expensive, I put 180 metres in in 2 days, the digger
including driver cost 15 quid an hour. You don't have to put the pipe
in the drive, it might be much easier up the middle of the lawn ...

Rick

"Rick Dipper" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 9 Jul 2004 20:13:36 +0100, "mich" wrote:


"BillV" wrote in message
...

"mich" wrote in message
...

If the water company (no boards for a decade or so)

I am old! Hence water board, but I do know they are now companies.


discover you have a leak
on yr side of their stopcock then they are likely to inform you they
will
cut you off with x days if not fixed.
Get the company's stopcock for your house, normally in the street,
turned
off for a short while to see if the hissing stops; if it does then you
have
to pay for the fix on your side.
Friend had to dig 30' of front garden down 2' to expose pipe so it
could
be
replaced. Pipe is cheap but labour is not. Water Co connected new pipe
to
their stopcock for no charge. This was in Essex..

I have an added problem now.Since the morning I have dug down outside the
house where it comes into the stop cock and found it is iron pipe. This
must
be water pipe since I have no other mains coming in ( electric overhead
and
no gas at all) .

The main road stop cock is a very old one ( still has water board
written
on it). However, the break might be on my side ot it might be in the lane
and I cant tell. There are also three stop cocks before you get to the
house. One in the road, one in the lane and one outside my kitchen door.
There is a fourth that feeds the outside ( now ex) prep room and outside
loo.
Either way I guess I am going to have to renew the lot since I dont
think
you can repair or patch into iron pipe?

Anyone can give the definitive answer on this.

By the way my house is 1950's rural smallholding bungalow. I have the
plans
but I cant see water mains marked on it.


Sir

Its not too expensive, I put 180 metres in in 2 days, the digger
including driver cost 15 quid an hour. You don't have to put the pipe
in the drive, it might be much easier up the middle of the lawn ...

Rick


Just so you know, some water companies will fix leaks for free. Thames Water
for instance offer a service where they will test for leaks between the
stopcock and the wall of the house (and fix if found) for no charge. In my
case, the leak was so small they replaced the entire aging pipe run with
25mm MDPE for no charge, using a mole to pull the pipe through, meaning only
3 holes were needed for a 100ft pipe run.

Maybe worth checking?

Alex

"Alex" wrote in message
...
"Rick Dipper" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 9 Jul 2004 20:13:36 +0100, "mich" wrote:


"BillV" wrote in message
...

"mich" wrote in message
...

If the water company (no boards for a decade or so)

I am old! Hence water board, but I do know they are now companies.


discover you have a leak
on yr side of their stopcock then they are likely to inform you they
will
cut you off with x days if not fixed.
Get the company's stopcock for your house, normally in the street,
turned
off for a short while to see if the hissing stops; if it does then
you
have
to pay for the fix on your side.
Friend had to dig 30' of front garden down 2' to expose pipe so it
could
be
replaced. Pipe is cheap but labour is not. Water Co connected new
pipe
to
their stopcock for no charge. This was in Essex..

I have an added problem now.Since the morning I have dug down outside
the
house where it comes into the stop cock and found it is iron pipe. This
must
be water pipe since I have no other mains coming in ( electric
overhead
and
no gas at all) .

The main road stop cock is a very old one ( still has water board
written
on it). However, the break might be on my side ot it might be in the
lane
and I cant tell. There are also three stop cocks before you get to the
house. One in the road, one in the lane and one outside my kitchen
door.
There is a fourth that feeds the outside ( now ex) prep room and
outside
loo.
Either way I guess I am going to have to renew the lot since I dont
think
you can repair or patch into iron pipe?

Anyone can give the definitive answer on this.

By the way my house is 1950's rural smallholding bungalow. I have the
plans
but I cant see water mains marked on it.


Sir

Its not too expensive, I put 180 metres in in 2 days, the digger
including driver cost 15 quid an hour. You don't have to put the pipe
in the drive, it might be much easier up the middle of the lawn ...

Rick


Just so you know, some water companies will fix leaks for free. Thames
Water
for instance offer a service where they will test for leaks between the
stopcock and the wall of the house (and fix if found) for no charge. In my
case, the leak was so small they replaced the entire aging pipe run with
25mm MDPE for no charge, using a mole to pull the pipe through, meaning
only
3 holes were needed for a 100ft pipe run.

Maybe worth checking?

Alex

This happened with our supply too - Anglian water in our case. We did not
even ask them - a surveying team was doing the whole area, checking the
pipes between stopcock and house. Took up a couple of squares of block
paving on the garden path and pulled the new pipe through at no charge.

Make some "general" enquiries first!

Will


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
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Rick Dipper wrote:
On Fri, 9 Jul 2004 20:13:36 +0100, "mich" wrote:


"BillV" wrote in message
...

"mich" wrote in message
...

If the water company (no boards for a decade or so)

I am old! Hence water board, but I do know they are now companies.


discover you have a leak

on yr side of their stopcock then they are likely to inform you they will
cut you off with x days if not fixed.
Get the company's stopcock for your house, normally in the street, turned
off for a short while to see if the hissing stops; if it does then you

have

to pay for the fix on your side.
Friend had to dig 30' of front garden down 2' to expose pipe so it could

be

replaced. Pipe is cheap but labour is not. Water Co connected new pipe to
their stopcock for no charge. This was in Essex..

I have an added problem now.Since the morning I have dug down outside the
house where it comes into the stop cock and found it is iron pipe. This must
be water pipe since I have no other mains coming in ( electric overhead and
no gas at all) .

The main road stop cock is a very old one ( still has water board written
on it). However, the break might be on my side ot it might be in the lane
and I cant tell. There are also three stop cocks before you get to the
house. One in the road, one in the lane and one outside my kitchen door.
There is a fourth that feeds the outside ( now ex) prep room and outside
loo.
Either way I guess I am going to have to renew the lot since I dont think
you can repair or patch into iron pipe?

Anyone can give the definitive answer on this.

By the way my house is 1950's rural smallholding bungalow. I have the plans
but I cant see water mains marked on it.



Sir

Its not too expensive, I put 180 metres in in 2 days, the digger
including driver cost 15 quid an hour. You don't have to put the pipe
in the drive, it might be much easier up the middle of the lawn ...

Rick

Another possibility comes to mind. If you don't use much water then
maybe a water meter would be viable. Have the water meter installed
next to the water suppliers stop cock, if with all your taps etc turned
off then the meter should not move, if it does there is a leek your side
of the pipe.
Downside if there is a fast leek until it is fixed you will be paying
for water that you don't use, though most house insurances cover that
these days.

--
Please reply to the Newsgroup.
All emails sent to this address are automatically deleted.

"Broadback" wrote in message
...
Rick Dipper wrote:
On Fri, 9 Jul 2004 20:13:36 +0100, "mich" wrote:


"BillV" wrote in message
...

"mich" wrote in message
...


I have an added problem now.Since the morning I have dug down outside
the
house where it comes into the stop cock and found it is iron pipe. This
must
be water pipe since I have no other mains coming in ( electric overhead
and
no gas at all) .

The main road stop cock is a very old one ( still has water board
written
on it). However, the break might be on my side ot it might be in the
lane
and I cant tell. There are also three stop cocks before you get to the
house. One in the road, one in the lane and one outside my kitchen door.
There is a fourth that feeds the outside ( now ex) prep room and
outside
loo.
Either way I guess I am going to have to renew the lot since I dont
think
you can repair or patch into iron pipe?

Anyone can give the definitive answer on this.

By the way my house is 1950's rural smallholding bungalow. I have the
plans
but I cant see water mains marked on it.



Sir

Its not too expensive, I put 180 metres in in 2 days, the digger
including driver cost 15 quid an hour. You don't have to put the pipe
in the drive, it might be much easier up the middle of the lawn ...

I have thought about other possibilities for running the pipe but the
positioning of the kitchen may have a lot to dictate it. Thank you for the
suggestion though. I am open to all ideas.


Another possibility comes to mind. If you don't use much water then
maybe a water meter would be viable. Have the water meter installed
next to the water suppliers stop cock, if with all your taps etc turned
off then the meter should not move, if it does there is a leek your side
of the pipe.
Downside if there is a fast leek until it is fixed you will be paying
for water that you don't use, though most house insurances cover that
these days.

I am on septic tank drainage and land drains onto my own land ( that sounds
grand but it isnt really - my own land is a field I own and the house is in
a second smaller field in front of it. Even the water board ( oops sorry
company - SWW by the way) tell me a water meter would not be cost effective
for me since I am not mains drainage.
My supply only of mains water costs about £115 a year this year.

In message , mich
writes
I think , I do not know , its just a think , that I may have a leak in my
mains coming into my house. This think is based on a number of issues with a
dripping tap in the kitchen CW ( refitting washers and still taps drip a
couple of days later) and the fact that when I flushed the tap pipe I have
got gravel out on two occasions now, despite cleaning the tap system.

Just a thought, if the hole in the pipe was big enough to let gravel in
then it would be letting an awful lot of water out. You would probably
have spotted it by now. More likely a repair was done sometime in the
past and the gravel entered the system then.
--
Bill