Graham Orm
Established Member
See if the one below still works using a pair of grips but be sure to support the body of the tap with another pair. EDIT It's very important that you support the tap body properly with bigger grips than you use on the nut or you'll risk ripping the tap off the pipe......and that would be messy. The body of the tap will take a lot of undoing, an adjustable spanner would be better than grips on the nut. DON'T use heat, you risk damaging the seal.RogerS":1gstannn said:Thanks Grayorm..you are right. It is a replacement.
Subsequent research suggests that although it did turn off, it didn't actually turn off the water. So I'm not sure where to go next
If using grips make sure you use them the right way round, they only work in one direction. It's called 'self wrapping action'. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pipe_wrench
The new tap looks too new for the washer to have disintegrated so my guess is that it's seized that you didn't actually close it. You need to shut off the water before the newer tap and take the body out first just to check the washer. Then get it in a vice and lubricate and work the tap until it works freely. Then put it all back. It's important that the tap is in the open position when you screw the body of the tap back in place.
If the bottom tap wont shut off the supply or you don't fancy it, then the only alternative is to get the supply turned off. If you do that get yourself a new tap. Rather than repairing the old one, just do as described above and replace the old tap body. EDIT In fact now I think about it you might be as well replacing the tap body either way. Very important that the tap is in the open position when you screw the body back in.
A freezer kit wouldn't be a good idea on this. The ones you buy in the shops are not brilliant and you have limited time before the ice plug melts. Once water starts passing the plug it won't re-freeze. I served my time with North West Water. We had monster freezer kits that came with a large cylinder and worked well. I've tried over the counter ones and conditions have to be perfect.