stopcock is leaking! ?

your answer is extremely useful! Our stopcock started leaking today, but when we turned it off, the leaking stopped - pretty sure it isn't the pipe then, and will advise my husband to talk knowingly of gland nuts and PTFE tape in a knowledgeable way with the plumber tomorrow morning. I shall even tell him to keep the washing up liquid advice up his sleeve!

Maggie D
November 2010

i think you can use kuterlite olives on the compression fittings which make it fit onto imperial

david
March 2010

thanks for your help, will give it a go x

lorna
April 2009

Not at all - this is what you do.
The gland nut (below the turny tap) can be undone with a spanner. (DONT turn the main, larger body nut whatever you do or you'll go swimming)! You don't actually need to turn the water off for this but the dribble will worsen). So, undo the gland nut, and wrap some PTFE tape around the spindle in a clockwise direction - maybe 6" or so. A smear of wash up liquid will help the tape slide down into the gland as you do up the gland nut again. This may be slightly awkward, but the idea is to pack the gland space with the tape. Anyway, tighten the gland nut back down and the leak should stop - if you overtighten the gland, the tap will become stiff. If this is not successful, buy a new stopcock, but just use the central part of it - chuck the main body away. The house water supply MUST be turned off at the outside stopcock if you go down this route. Any help?

John
April 2009

to me it does look like it is leaking from under the gland nut, though im no expert (obviously) would it be impossible to get the bits & pieces to do this because of the sizes of pipes ect?

lorna
April 2009

It depends where the stopcock is leaking from...if its from the gland nut just underneath the turning part then its easy to do.....I wonder if Mr. Plumber isn't trying too hard?

John
April 2009