Leak to lead pipe

P

Pope John 11

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I have leak to a lead pipe just under the front door. I have been told that it should be replaced from the front door to the co. council stopcock valve in the footpath.

Is anyone familiar with the steps required to take regarding to getting it fixed. Its on the private water main & water is entering the house underneath the suspended timber floor.
 
Depends on what you want to do, it you want to replace the whole lot, use 1/2 HG hydro pipe and run it right back to stop cock.

You can get lead fittings (lead lock) to repair it. A real pain because lead is sized by weight, very hard to determine size unless you cut out section and bring to plumbing supplier.
 
Can't you change the lead for copper or polyethylene from the council stop tap up to your door?
Lead does have a tendency to leach from pipework into the water and this is not good for children.
 
BillK said:
Can't you change the lead for copper or polyethylene from the council stop tap up to your door?
Lead does have a tendency to leach from pipework into the water and this is not good for children.
Click to expand...

Looking at changing it to copper from the front door to the boundary where it meets the footpath.

However I have been told that I will require a road opening up licience by some plumbers. I have also been told that the co. co. will charge a fee too for altering their stopcock etc
 
Different rules here in England; from the outlet of the stoptap is the customer's responsibility.
 
BillK said:
Lead does have a tendency to leach from pipework into the water and this is not good for children.
Click to expand...

This is a perception that is false and misleading.The amount of lead that runs into the water from a lead pipe in these type of circumstances is so minuscule that it will not put anybody in danger.

If it was as dangerous as what you make out why is lead still allowed to be sold and remains as part of most people's roofs.
 
That service pipe is on your property so you'll probably have to repair it, unless you are a council tenant. Lead service pipes have been used since roman times are not known for causing many lead poisoning fatalties. The pipe is probably half inch diameter and can be repaired using a 22mm diameter compression straight connection in conjunction with inserts. You can also get a philmac polyethylene staight connector that will also fit the lead. Best leave the repair to a qulified plumber. This is not a diy job
You may be better of replacing the service from the council stopcock into your property as lead pipe is known degrade and "pit" after long service. The norm is to use a half inch heavy gauge polythene(black/blue) pipe from the council stopcock to an area under your kitchen sink where you can fit your own stop valve for private use. Hope this helps
 

Many thanks for your comments villa 1. I plan to put a lever stopcock just inside the front door,its more accessible. There is no way of turning off the mains supply as it is in the dwelling at present.

I understand that the lead pipe can be replaced from the dwelling front door to the boundary of the footpath, but am I required to notify the council to alter the pipework from the boundary to the public mains, & if so what is the best procedure to commence this
 

1. If your child drinks the water over a period of years then their health could be affected.

2. Very few people are drinking the run-off from their roof.
 
Ring the water authority in your local council and inform them of your predicament. The footpath outside your boundary wall will have to be opened up to expose the council stopcock(check it's condition) and you will then have to engage a plumbing contractor(with the appropriate public liability insurance) to bring in the new water service. You may be lucky and the local council may put in the new service for you.
 
BillK said:
1. If your child drinks the water over a period of years then their health could be affected.

2. Very few people are drinking the run-off from their roof.
Click to expand...

1. Well when I grew up in Dublin our house had lead pipes and it did not make me or my brothers or my mother or my father ill. My parents died at the ages of 79 (mother) and 88 (father) As well as that we used to own a lead factory making lead products. None of the staff ever became ill from Lead poisoning and some of them have 40 years working there and are still working there. As well as that constant medical inspections were taken on the staff regularly. I suppose it's good for kids to drink plenty of fizzy drinks and eat dozens of bars of chocolate and it will not do them any harm ?

2. If it was as dangerous as you make out the sale of lead would be outlawed.

Stop scaremongering.
 
BillK said:
Why were the constant medical inspections being taken?
Click to expand...

Due to the smear on Lead production, Lead Products and anything else where smear was evident, constant testing was introduced. The Local Community was tested, the workers, the Management and all persons that needed to be inspected were tested for years and years. This is proof and the results cannot be challenged.

I do recall at the time that it was presented that one had more chance of getting lead poisoning standing on O'Connell bridge breathing fumes than in our production facility.
 
My comments remain that the content of the link is skeptical. I have seen the evidence to the contrary. However I am unable to voice an opinion as to how others conduct their affairs and provide the workers with a safe passage in their place of work.
 
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