Turning Bathroom Water off etc

[spartan]

Just about to start to tear stuff down in my two bathrooms. I have a shower room that I intend to use during the build process.

I think I have most things figured out...except for turning the water off under teh vanities.

I'm guessing that with the bath and showers that's all taken care of but with teh vanities???

Is there a simple DIY way of turning the water off here with requiring a plumber?

[KevM]

Firstly, let me preface this with the following "All work on connections to a reticulated water supply require the plumber to be licenced".

Now with that out of the way, what he would do would be to turn water off out side, unscrew pipe from wall, later types will be a flexible metal braid covered hose. Earlier types will be a copper pipe from a nipple and replace hose with an end cap(don't forget the thread tape).

Before starting the job, make sure you have all fittings required as SWMBO will not take kindly to an extended period without running water.

Kev M

[sol381]

Just go out ot your foortpath lift up the black cover plate to the main and turn it off. Some have a metal tap that turns just a quarter turn and may require a spanner or pliers and others have a plastic tap that can be turned by hand. After youve done that open the vanity or shower taps to release the water thats in the pipes.
If the taps arent going to be used for a long period and obviously you cant keep the mains off forever you can remove the taps and screw plastic plugs onto the fitting.
stef

[DPB]

This question brings up the practice of installing shut-off valves under sinks, cisterns, or any other plumbing fixture. This is common practice is some countries (I refer to my Canadian background).

The advantage is obvious, it allows you to "isolate" a sink, etc. from the mains pressure without resorting to turning off the water to the entire house. I've made it a practice, whenever I'm having new upgraded items installed, to have the plumber install an in-line shut-off valve immediately prior to the appliance. I can change tap washers, etc, with with ease, and it is unnecessary to turn the water off at the property line.

It's cheep enough to do this, so I don't understand why it's not a common practice here.:confused:

[Trav]

I agree DPB. I rencetly changed dischwashers and the fact that each had an in-line shut-off valve made life soo much easier. Except where the valve in one house (a outdoor garden tap screwed to the back of the cupboard :eek: ) was leaking as well. Then I had to find the mains and switch it off.

As for the original question - sol381 is dead right.

If you don't understand basic plumbing, you might be better off getting a plumber out early on in the piece - flooding is always bad.

Trav

PS - watch out for asbestos when kncoking down the walls in the wet areas. We had an asbestos inspection and they reckon that the walls to all of the wet areas (2 bathrooms, plus the laundry) have asbestos sheeting.

Trav

[spartan]

Thanks guys for your input....

To clarify....I not totally unskilled (my opinion only), done plenty of reseating of taps, replacing washers, and external taps and the like...I had appreciated the fact that it was a 10 minute job and though it was a waste to get a plumber to charge out fee and the travel time to my remote place...if it was simple....

SO I guess it is....so bunnies would have these end caps?
I guess I haven't come across the end caps that are referred too so that's why I have asked...you can never ask enough questons....

The inline taps seem to be a good idea...but would the use of ceramic disc taps counter the argument?

[sol381]

Not sure if bunnies have them. Tradelink would. Theyre about 2-3 inches long black plastic with an external thread that you screw onto the tap fitting. Plumbers use them when they do their rough-in.
stef