Please don't judge me - I know nothing about plumbing/water systems! Ok, here's the situation. My late Mum's old house is unoccupied with an ancient gas boiler that was condemned, switched off and all the water drained out of the system and the water turned off to avoid a frozen pipe situation during the winter. The guy who looks after the garden is asking if we can turn the water back on - also it would be pretty handy for us for emptying the house if we had access to water/able to use the toilet etc. Given that getting plumbers in is a spendy business I'm reluctant to go down that road if I can avoid it. So, can I just turn the water back on myself? Can I stop if from going through the whole system? Is it possible to turn the water on for the outside shed and toilet (told you it was an old property!) only? All/any info or advice gratefully received!
There's a good chance there's a stop valve on the water pipe going into the central heating unit. make sure that's off then turn on the water, what could go wrong? If there are any stop cocks they might leak after being dry for a while but other wise just listen for water flow and if there is none after the water has been on for a few seconds you're fine.
It depends.
There’s a good chance there’s a stop valve on the water pipe going into the central heating unit. make sure that’s off then turn on the water, what could go wrong? If there are any stop cocks they might leak after being dry for a while but other wise just listen for water flow and if there is none after the water has been on for a few seconds you’re fine.
But, 1. you'd need to find and know you had found the central heating stop valve which based on your questions above you may not; 2. you will now have refilled all the pipework in the house with water and if it gets below freezing you could end up with a burst pipe (and likely insurance refuse to cover at the house is empty).
There's so many variables its hard to know - e.g. the outside supply might be direct off the mains or might be fed from a tank. There may be a stopcock in the house, but sometimes there isn't. The boiler probably can be isolated separately from the rest of the house but sometimes thats via a tank with a ball cock and sometimes its not. Even in new houses there isn't one nice standard with a distribution board like for electricity and it wouldn't be labelled if there was! I suspect the issue will not be cost (its half an hours work for the plumber at most, or an hour if you asked him to fit an isolation valves so you can shut off something) but that for that little work getting someone decent will be hard.
How about a barrel to collect rain off the roof for the gardener? You could use a bucket of water from that to flush the outhouse for the infrequent occasion it would be needed...
If the stop cock is accessible from outside the house could the gardener turn it on and off when he comes and goes?
I wouldn't be bothered about the boiler - if it's condemned it doesn't really matter if it has water in it or not. Probably can be isolated anyway with gate valves underneath and the central heating loops will stay empty, along with hot water if combi.
Would suggest you open the stopcock slowly though if it's been empty for a while to minimise the shock.
“stop cock”
“s****” 🤣🤣🤣
If I was you I’d be concerned the drain off valve/s may still be open. If they are turning the water back on would mean leaks. Further investigation required!
Why does the gardener need the water on?
Haven't we just had the wettest May on record - I doubt anything needs watering!
Thanks everyone. There's lots of really great advice here and strangely I'm reassured that it isn't as simple as just turning the stopcock on. I've managed to persuade someone (not a plumber but has a good knowledge of this kind of stuff) to come and have a look, even if it does eventually mean trying to get a plumber (totally agree with poly that that might not be easy particularly now that our usual plumber has retired!). I think the water butt is a great idea - going to investigate that today.
The guy who does the garden likes to do a bit of powerwashing of paths etc so I think that is probably what he wants the water on for more than watering the plants!
