I've just used an in-line tap to turn off water supply to an outside tap. It has a compression fitting each end and is operated with a screwdriver. However, the metal is very soft and the driver no longer grips it and I have been unable to fully turn it back on.
Does anyone have any suggestions of how to rectify this problem? If it involves replacing the in-line tap is this easy to do, or should I get a plumber?
Regards,
Ian
Swap it for a lever ball valve. This will resolve the screwdriver nonsense and is also full bore so the tap will work better.
Here's an example.
.andy
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On Tue, 18 May 2004 21:27:47 +0100, in uk.d-i-y Andy Hall strung together this:
Good so far, and advice to be acted upon.
Unless it's anything other than a standard tap the bore of the tap won't be much different to the service valve, still fit a full bore valve though. A lot better for ease of use.
If the screwdriver slot is chewed up, there ain't a lot you can do - other than replace the whole thing.
This is very straightforward - as long as you have the right size spanners (or adjustables) and a modicum of common sense. You'll probably find that the compression nuts and olives from the existing fitting will fit the new one - so it's very easy to replace as long as you've got a bit of axial play in the pipe.
As someone else has suggested, a better solution may be to use a full-flow lever-operated valve instead. This would probably be a bit longer than the existing fitting. If so, you may have to cut a bit off the pipe and remake one of the compression joints. Again, not rocket science!
On Wed, 19 May 2004 16:32:39 +0100, in uk.d-i-y Derek strung together this:
I would have thought it would have been easier to turn the gas tap off at the meter. No pipe holding and all done before 10:01am.
I didn't say he was smart!
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