Returning home this evening and we have very low water pressure. Cannot run shower or dishwasher, boiler only just got enough pressure to heat water and says 1.4 bar whilst doing so.
The neighbours are having an extension built and it looks like the plumber has been today (old hot water tank and pipes in back garden). What are the chances that he has done something that could affect our water supply?
Got the wrong cock in the street?
Can you share cocks?
I did check with our other neighbours (we are mid terrace) and they don't have a problem. He was in the shower...
Can you share cocks?
Must not make obvious comment.....
But yes - in both instances 😉
Let's hope the builders are in tomorrow, they have been about most Saturdays. It is tempting to call out an emergency plumber and charge the neighbours should that prove to be the problem. Not very neighbourly though.
It is not like the neighbour's plumber could have blocked your water supply with debris - either they have turned down/off an external stop-cock (possibly shared, possibly by mistake) or your internal pipework is leaking or the mains pipe is leaking somewhere. Is the cold water feed low, i.e. in the kitchen? As long as you are convinced any external stop-cock from the mains to your house branch is fully open and you can't hear a leak anywhere inside your house, I would be tempted to call the water board and explain.
And yes you can share external stop-cocks: e.g. [url= http://www.thameswater.co.uk/help-and-advice/13546.htm ]Thames Water page[/url].
If you are mid terrace you could be on a common supply, if you are it needs some investigation which the water company may do
If you are a separate supply then you may have a leak or the neighbours plumber has messed with your stop tap
Thanks for the responses.
Managed to get hold of the builder by text. He is on site tomorrow at 8.30 so we can find out for sure if they have done anything. Otherwise it's water company followed by plumber 🙁
Between the builders next door and the Gas main being replaced last week for the whole road anything could have happened.
The stop cock nearest isn't always the correct one. My last house had water meter/stop cock in the pavement outside my neighbours house his was outside mine. Queue lots of cock ups with water bills and meter readings
A shared water main can be a problem because, often the stop tap in the street is rarely used. If your neighbours inside stop tap didn't function when the plumber came to do work, the easiest option is for him to isolate properties feed by this main in the street. When reinstating the supply. It's possible he either hasn't opened the tap all the way or accumulated debris (lime scale or other impurities) lodged in the stop tap have made their way into your supply.
I would first make sure the main isolator is fully open and if so, isolate in the street again and begin working my way back, starting with your stop tap.
Incidentally, the pressure in your boiler (you say 1.4 bar) has absolutely nothing to do with your cold main. I'm sure someone can explain this to you if you need to understand. It's not relevant in this instance though.
Bear in mind. It's quite possibly not your neighbours or their plumbers fault. It could just have easily been a reverse situation had you needed plumbing work first.
Lets hope he's a decent plumber and willing to help you out.
Loss in static pressure usually indicates a leak, loss of pressure on demand a restriction