nevins Posted December 6, 2010 Share Posted December 6, 2010 Just had a new washer dryer delivered, and the deal was that we pay the extra £15 and they fit and take away the old one. No when they went to turn off the cold water supply the valve will not turn. So to the plumbers on here, is it safe for me to hold my zippo under the valve to melt the ice if that is what has happened. I am tempted to just rip the pipe off but I don'tthink that's a good idea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Posted December 6, 2010 Share Posted December 6, 2010 Is the main stopcock, or an isolating valve local to the washing machine's location? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
probrox Posted December 6, 2010 Share Posted December 6, 2010 If it is frozen you would probably be safer with a hairdrier or similar. Are you sure it is frozen and not just seized? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Posted December 6, 2010 Share Posted December 6, 2010 If it is frozen you would probably be safer with a hairdrier or similar. Are you sure it is frozen and not just seized? Good point, I presume its inside the house. I mean, how cold is it in your kitchen? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nevins Posted December 6, 2010 Author Share Posted December 6, 2010 Yeah its an isolator for the washer. It shouldn't be seized as it was replaced around a month ago. As for the temp in the house its pretty cold, I live in an old school headmasters house, its the old flag stone construction with no insulation its dated as being built 1920's so quite old and bloody terrible in the winter. Plus I don't have the heating on at night due to the mrs chest and her asthma Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
movistar Posted December 6, 2010 Share Posted December 6, 2010 could be cheaper to move:blink:....plumbers are charging a fortune at the mo:no: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nevins Posted December 6, 2010 Author Share Posted December 6, 2010 So is a water system under pressure, as im thinking unscrew and put my thumb over the end of the pipe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wile e coyote Posted December 6, 2010 Share Posted December 6, 2010 could be under mains presure have you got a header tank in the loft ? mabe crack off the nut slowly on the machine side see if you have water then the other side but as said before hairdryer first Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustGav Posted December 6, 2010 Share Posted December 6, 2010 So is a water system under pressure, as im thinking unscrew and put my thumb over the end of the pipe That just never seems to go to plan when you try it.....with water going EVERYWHERE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nevins Posted December 6, 2010 Author Share Posted December 6, 2010 Cheers guys, as far as i'm aware there is no tank in the attic. Just checked and my insurance is up to date so may go have a play with it now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustGav Posted December 6, 2010 Share Posted December 6, 2010 Day 3 in the nevin's house, and Gar is still sat with his finger on the pipe.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie_b Posted December 6, 2010 Share Posted December 6, 2010 The cold mains feed (which is what will feed your washer) will be under a fair amount of pressure. Is the isolating valve one of those quarter-turn ball valves, whose handle looks a bit like half a wing-nut? I've never heard of one of those seizing but I don't have much plumbing experience. Are there any cold water taps near the washer, e.g. kitchen sink tap? Is that working OK? If it is, I'd be surprised that the washer feed is frozen solid. You could give the hairdryer a go, but be ready to turn the main internal stopvalve off in case it goes bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nevins Posted December 6, 2010 Author Share Posted December 6, 2010 Day 3 in the nevin's house, and Gar is still sat with his finger on the pipe.... Only you could come up with something like that fella. Its all done now in a rather amusing manner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nevins Posted December 6, 2010 Author Share Posted December 6, 2010 The cold mains feed (which is what will feed your washer) will be under a fair amount of pressure. Is the isolating valve one of those quarter-turn ball valves, whose handle looks a bit like half a wing-nut? I've never heard of one of those seizing but I don't have much plumbing experience. Are there any cold water taps near the washer, e.g. kitchen sink tap? Is that working OK? If it is, I'd be surprised that the washer feed is frozen solid. You could give the hairdryer a go, but be ready to turn the main internal stopvalve off in case it goes bad. Tap is letting a small amount of water out as if its blocked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nevins Posted December 6, 2010 Author Share Posted December 6, 2010 Well I have done it, sat there with my zippo as god knows where sam has put the hair dryer. Managed to turn the valve it was the ball type, out of morbid curiosity I opened the valve while trying to look up it and got shot in the face with slush Moral of the story, curiosity killed the cat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie_b Posted December 6, 2010 Share Posted December 6, 2010 ..deleted post... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swampy442 Posted December 6, 2010 Share Posted December 6, 2010 Glad its sorted mate, but surely moral of the story is lag your pipes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edge Posted December 6, 2010 Share Posted December 6, 2010 Its uber cheap to buy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nevins Posted December 6, 2010 Author Share Posted December 6, 2010 Im a mechanic not a builder / plumber lol. The pipes are behind the false walls in the kitchen which is open space then the old stone walls. Whoever built this place wants to be shot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Posted December 6, 2010 Share Posted December 6, 2010 ... got shot in the face with slush . Ooh Cheeky boy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nevins Posted December 6, 2010 Author Share Posted December 6, 2010 Ooh Cheeky boy. Not that type of slush lol, everythings about sex these days lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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