stopcock leaking

[footycard steve]

had quite a few problems in recent months with low boiler pressure,low water pressure etc some of it has been caused by workmen digging and laying new water pipes in our street now tonight just after the workmen went home our stopcock under the sink has been leaking,a steady trickle when turned on to allow water and a steady drip now its turned off and its in a unit in the kitchen so not great access but the leak seems to be coming from the bulb shaped base rather than the tap/turning prongs i'm convinced this has something to do with the workmen adjusting the water pressure,any advice on how to stop the dripping? as its filling a std sandwich tupaware container in a couple of hours so i dont want to have to leave it overnight.

[Grizz]

you should have another valve outside the house. turn this off and replace the one under the sink

[smoggy]

normally a stop cock leaks from the gland where the isolation tap stem enters the valve.
first off try backseating it by opening it fully putting a bit of pressure on it forcing it fully open.
this gland can also be repacked with a bit of string

[footycard steve]

normally a stop cock leaks from the gland where the isolation tap stem enters the valve.
first off try backseating it by opening it fully putting a bit of pressure on it forcing it fully open.
this gland can also be repacked with a bit of string
last time they sent a works plumber when our water pressure was low and he said the stopcock had a pin and when they altered the pressure this would cause the pin to drop out but turning the stopcock slowly would bring it back in but i've tried this a couple of times and its not working.

[footycard steve]

you should have another valve outside the house. turn this off and replace the one under the sink
we have a tap on the back wall outside the house not sure about a valve?

[smoggy]

we have a tap on the back wall outside the house not sure about a valve?

at a bit of a loss as to a pin moving

the isolation valve to your house is generally in the street at the front of your property, there will be a small grate that lifts up to allow access to it but you need a special isolating tool that is 2-3 feet long.

EDIT : see here http://www.google.co.uk/search?client=opera&rls=en&q=stopcock&oe=utf-8&channel=suggest&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=rToXT_1dz7fxA7nP7PAC&biw=1600&bih=665&sei=sjoXT-DECsiq8AP3qcTmAg

[footycard steve]

we'll jut have to leave it until morning or get up in the middle of rh night to empty the tub,as for the pin the works fella said it was an old stopcock but i've tried turning it slowly but no good and its very awkward as i have to sit on the floor with back to the kitchen unit with my hand behind my back to reach it.

[neilsignum]

If the stoptap is leaking when turned off then it is likely to be the inlet (or outlet) joint being disturbed by being turned on and off repeatedly, as it a big leak then it is likely the inlet under mains pressure (rather than the static house water leaking back - usually much less). It is possible a tweak of the joints can stop the leak, or as has been suggested, that the gland on the tap stem may need tightening to stop leaks up the stem, but note that this makes the tap stiff and CAN upset the joints on each end.
The 'pin' that you talk about is probably the 'tap jumper' (Toolstation (http://www.toolstation.com/documents/search/index.html?searchstr=71668&submit=Go)) and fits in the end of the tap spindle - just occasionally they can drop out of the spindle but not very often (but they can be damn stiff though when gummed up at full open). Stoptaps should be worked from full off to full on (and then back a bit) at least once a year to alleviate this problem - nobody does...

Ideally you need to turn off the 'waterboard' stoptap at the roadside and replace the existing stoptap with a new one, waterkeys are available from Toolstation from about ?12 and the stoptap is about ?5 - it may be a straight swap but I doubt it :-( Get a quarter turn tap if you can as they take less force to turn and don't bind as much -

Toolstation (http://www.toolstation.com/documents/search/index.html?searchstr=71932&submit=Go)

Toolstation (http://www.toolstation.com/documents/search/index.html?searchstr=71816&submit=Go)

Toolstation (http://www.toolstation.com/documents/search/index.html?searchstr=64716&submit=Go)

[footycard steve]

we are currently waiting for the boss of the pipe laying company to pay us a visit and see what he has to say,but if anything needs repaired or replaced i'd expect them to do it.

[footycard steve]

the bosses came and had a good look and said our lead pipes dont help but if they werent working on the pipes outside we wouldnt have the problems so they got a plumber to come in and he sorted it he also said it had to do with the ongoing work affecting the lead pipes.

[DogdySnigwirter]

If, when i'm fitting the odd kitchen the stop cock either doesn't turn off fully or is in an awkward place I usually replace them with Lever Ball Valves (http://www.screwfix.com/p/full-bore-lever-ball-valve-15mm/13103). They turn off within a quarter turn, easy to fit and for ?3:00 a bargain!