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No Water

  • 26-12-2009 3:36pm
    #1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 19


    can someone help with this problem please. Pipes froze last week and since then we have had no water, both hot and cold tanks now empty (stupid we know) but now that thaw is here we still have no water coming in from mains so no water anywhere in house. Any suggestions?


«1

Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 672 ✭✭✭items


    mato wrote: »
    can someone help with this problem please. Pipes froze last week and since then we have had no water, both hot and cold tanks now empty (stupid we know) but now that thaw is here we still have no water coming in from mains so no water anywhere in house. Any suggestions?

    Your mains could be still frozen, or it could have burst underground. Mains pressure behind a frost plug can bust a plastic pipe. Depending on how badly it could be burst you should still have some kind of supply.

    Do you have a Co Council supply? or a Community supply? or a Fresh water well?

    Best know where your water comes from first.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 19 mato


    Thank for reply items. We are on Cork county council mains supply. We have had a good thaw here in Cork yesterday and today although still very cold so we thought water would have freed. We've tried all the suggestions here of pouring water on stopcock and using hairdryer on incoming pipes and outside tap but still nada. Neighbours water fine.
    Could it be airlocked?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 672 ✭✭✭items


    mato wrote: »
    Thank for reply items. We are on Cork county council mains supply. We have had a good thaw here in Cork yesterday and today although still very cold so we thought water would have freed. We've tried all the suggestions here of pouring water on stopcock and using hairdryer on incoming pipes and outside tap but still nada. Neighbours water fine.
    Could it be airlocked?

    Their is always more than enough pressure in a water main to remove any air.

    Have you no supply at all, not even a drip at sink?

    While you were at outside stopcock, could you hear water moving through the valve or was their dead silence?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 19 mato


    We had very low pressure at the kitchen tap for a day or two early in the week then nothing since. I can't tell whether there were water sounds at stop cock as I didn't do that and no one else here to ask at moment. Guess we'll just have to wait until after weekend & get someone out. No water is the pits! Thanks for help items


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 672 ✭✭✭items


    Try and locate outside stopcock, then try and listen out for moving water, its real obvious. Have a listen to next doors while tap running to compare.

    If you can provide Co Council with some proof that water main is bust, they might come out sooner.

    If you hear water moving through the valve but have no supply at house then its definitely bust underground. No idea what Cork Co Council is like, if it is bust in your boundary they might just shut off the supply until you have it fixed.

    Hard to tell what it really is from here, best of luck.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 179 ✭✭pipers


    Mains pipe frozen in my house in South Dublin. It freezes overnight & appears to thaw out by early afternoon. Tank in the attic has emptied twice since Christmas Eve.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 672 ✭✭✭items


    pipers wrote: »
    Mains pipe frozen in my house in South Dublin. It freezes overnight & appears to thaw out by early afternoon. Tank in the attic has emptied twice since Christmas Eve.

    If its happening regular, at night do a load of washing at longest setting, stick on dishwasher before bed, even leave mains slightly open filling a bucket or barrel etc.

    If water main is moving water during a freeze, the movement should stop if from freezing over.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 68 ✭✭Blonde27


    Hi All
    Came back to my house after a couple of days. I had the heating on timer to make sure the pipes didnt freeze. However, I went to have a shower (electric) this evening and no water came out. Does this sound like a problem with the tank freezing or a dodgy shower?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 672 ✭✭✭items


    Blonde27 wrote: »
    Hi All
    Came back to my house after a couple of days. I had the heating on timer to make sure the pipes didnt freeze. However, I went to have a shower (electric) this evening and no water came out. Does this sound like a problem with the tank freezing or a dodgy shower?

    Unlikely to have a tank frozen up, could be shower problem. If your showers off mains water supply maybe its being effected by poor mains supply.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 68 ✭✭Blonde27


    the pump is working but no water, there is water coming from the rest of the taps...dont know what to do..


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 672 ✭✭✭items


    Blonde27 wrote: »
    the pump is working but no water, there is water coming from the rest of the taps...dont know what to do..

    Turn temp on shower to lowest setting, remove shower head,and drop hose down onto shower tray, try running shower that way, might draw some water into motor and have it running. Give that a try running shower max at 30 sec to a min. You can try it a few times but don't go mad. Turning the temp down will save shower from burning out from no water.

    Hard to say from here but try that first, let us know what happens, any water at all etc.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 68 ✭✭Blonde27


    Items
    Thanks so much! Tried your solution and there is water running through it again, water is back to normal. It nearly seemed that the supply of water was blocked


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 672 ✭✭✭items


    No probs, have nice shower.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15 422452


    Hi
    We have fresh water well and water treatment system.
    Water went on X MAs eve - we turned off motor and treatment system. However despite good thaw yesterday and today we still have no water.
    Our neighbours with the same system thawed yest and have water.
    The switch for water pump and tratment system now trips both when you turn on motor/treatment system and when they're off.
    We tried using hair dryer and boiling water around treatment system and exposed pipes - to no success
    Any suggestions greatly appreciated
    Thanks
    O


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,679 ✭✭✭✭CJhaughey


    422452 wrote: »
    Hi
    We have fresh water well and water treatment system.
    Water went on X MAs eve - we turned off motor and treatment system. However despite good thaw yesterday and today we still have no water.
    Our neighbours with the same system thawed yest and have water.
    The switch for water pump and tratment system now trips both when you turn on motor/treatment system and when they're off.
    We tried using hair dryer and boiling water around treatment system and exposed pipes - to no success
    Any suggestions greatly appreciated
    Thanks
    O

    Frozen pipework may have burst somewhere, check to see if it's leaking.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 672 ✭✭✭items


    422452 wrote: »
    Hi
    We have fresh water well and water treatment system.
    Water went on X MAs eve - we turned off motor and treatment system. However despite good thaw yesterday and today we still have no water.
    Our neighbours with the same system thawed yest and have water.
    The switch for water pump and tratment system now trips both when you turn on motor/treatment system and when they're off.
    We tried using hair dryer and boiling water around treatment system and exposed pipes - to no success
    Any suggestions greatly appreciated
    Thanks
    O

    I am a bit confused as to what you mean by water went on, then you turned off pump?

    Frost may have created a problem but sounds like it led to an electrical problem, as every time you turn on pump, its knocking the supply breaker off.

    After you turned off pump, all pressure was lost in water system, when you turned it back on, pump might of had to work too hard to re pressurize the the system.

    Weather is abnormal, if you happen to have a temperamental pump maybe it cant handle having to re pressurize a colder than normal water supply, temp effects water density so you could have over loaded well pump.

    Have a look at pump control box and see if you can replace any fuses, rule out all the obvious stuff, fuses in control box, spur supply fuses, fuses in plugs.

    After you've replaced fuses, if turning on pump is still tripping the breaker you might have to call out someone to service the pump, small electrical component may have burnt out due to pump working to hard.

    Hard to tell from here, best advice I can give.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 19 mato


    items thanks for help yesterday, glad to say our water is back today, must have been frozen underground as you suggested. The forecast is for more sub-zero weather again over the next few nights and I read that leaving the water dripping is a way to stop it freezing, would it be ok to leave the cold tap in the bath running slightly or should it be in the kitchen?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 672 ✭✭✭items


    mato wrote: »
    items thanks for help yesterday, glad to say our water is back today, must have been frozen underground as you suggested. The forecast is for more sub-zero weather again over the next few nights and I read that leaving the water dripping is a way to stop it freezing, would it be ok to leave the cold tap in the bath running slightly or should it be in the kitchen?

    No bother, bath is fine so long as it doesn't make to much sound , your water main will still have to move to replace water thats lost in attic tank.

    Reason why I mention use wash machine, dish washer over night is, your not wasting water. Having bath dripping all night is wasting water but due to circumstances with high frost I'm sure not many people would take offense to it.

    The amount of water that has to move depends on how big a frost is expected if you get me. You don't have to have water running a full bore, flush a few toilets have a shower etc anything at all just before bed time to lower level of water in tank, then all you need to do is have a tap providing a small trickle.

    See how it goes, just a tip, nothing is certain as you wont know how low temperature is going to drop.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15 422452


    items wrote: »
    I am a bit confused as to what you mean by water went on, then you turned off pump?

    Frost may have created a problem but sounds like it led to an electrical problem, as every time you turn on pump, its knocking the supply breaker off.

    After you turned off pump, all pressure was lost in water system, when you turned it back on, pump might of had to work too hard to re pressurize the the system.

    Weather is abnormal, if you happen to have a temperamental pump maybe it cant handle having to re pressurize a colder than normal water supply, temp effects water density so you could have over loaded well pump.

    Have a look at pump control box and see if you can replace any fuses, rule out all the obvious stuff, fuses in control box, spur supply fuses, fuses in plugs.

    After you've replaced fuses, if turning on pump is still tripping the breaker you might have to call out someone to service the pump, small electrical component may have burnt out due to pump working to hard.

    Hard to tell from here, best advice I can give.

    Thanks Items
    I meant we lost our water supply on x mas eve.
    Hopefully we'll get electrician to have a look tomor.
    One other question please
    Our heating system is oil and solid fuel stove with back boiler - can we turn on either of them - I have topped up cold storage tank in attic with buckets of water - however i think hot water tank levels are now low as there is little pressure on hot water tap in kitchen.
    I don't want to do any damage as stove only fitted in last month with new hot tank!!!
    Thanks
    O


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 672 ✭✭✭items


    422452 wrote: »
    Thanks Items
    I meant we lost our water supply on x mas eve.
    Hopefully we'll get electrician to have a look tomor.
    One other question please
    Our heating system is oil and solid fuel stove with back boiler - can we turn on either of them - I have topped up cold storage tank in attic with buckets of water - however i think hot water tank levels are now low as there is little pressure on hot water tap in kitchen.
    I don't want to do any damage as stove only fitted in last month with new hot tank!!!
    Thanks
    O

    You might be a little confused. Cold water storage tanks store water for both cold and hot water services. I doubt you have a separate tank for just hot water, that would be a first for me. You might have a separate tank for heating, but that should be no problem heating wise, as heating requires very little water from tank once heating system is full.

    Your hot water might be air locked after cold water storage tank emptied, if you can look back at my older posts, the first 20 or 30 you'll find ways to remove air locks in hot water.

    As for running two at same time, if you've ran both at same time before their should be no problem. If they have been piped in a way to both run together it should be ok is what I really mean.

    Might be a case where you've had a new hot water cylinder installed along with the stove to make most of the additional heat, hot water cylinders fill from bottom and supply out going pipework from the top so if it is a case where you have a separate tank filling that cylinder, the cylinder is still full.

    In a nut shell, heating and plumbing are separate, if you've got some plumbing problems most cases its fine to still use heating provided system is full with water. Unless you've got some heating system leaks your unaware of it should be fine to run heating even though your mains supply is not available at present.

    Tanks are in attic, cylinders store your hot water, sinks are for washing dishes, basins can be found in bathrooms.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,001 ✭✭✭Royal Seahawk


    items wrote: »
    Their is always more than enough pressure in a water main to remove any air.

    ?

    Not true, in fact sometimes increased pressure in water mains causes airlocks.

    I am a plumber with a local authority and I'm on call over the holidays. It is our duty to respond to any calls regarding no water. I'm pretty sure Cork Co. Co. would do the same. Give them a ring and explain your situation. At the very least they should give you a temporary supply.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 672 ✭✭✭items


    Not true, in fact sometimes increased pressure in water mains causes airlocks.

    I am a plumber with a local authority and I'm on call over the holidays. It is our duty to respond to any calls regarding no water. I'm pretty sure Cork Co. Co. would do the same. Give them a ring and explain your situation. At the very least they should give you a temporary supply.

    Not sure, maybe you've taken me up wrong. I mean if a water main is turned off by Co Council at plant etc, then comes back on the main in most cases will have enough pressure behind it to force out any air though tap @ sink.

    I've never heard a Co Council person saying they can not provide a mains supply because the water main network is air locked. Not saying it cant happen, so far I've never heard of it.

    Also, all I fit these days is pressurized water systems, once a pump is in the mix, air locks are never an issue. Gravity supplied pipe work bring air lock issues.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 108 ✭✭SonasRec


    I have a similar problem, hoping 'items' might help.

    This morning we woke up to no water. Did the hot water at stopcock & at the outside tap just outside the kitchen window. Got supply to the outside tap going but no joy on the mains to the house.

    So i've got mains outside but none inside. Is there any way to free the pipe? I don't know where the supply comes to the house.

    Any help appreciated, thanks.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 672 ✭✭✭items


    SonasRec wrote: »
    I have a similar problem, hoping 'items' might help.

    This morning we woke up to no water. Did the hot water at stopcock & at the outside tap just outside the kitchen window. Got supply to the outside tap going but no joy on the mains to the house.

    So i've got mains outside but none inside. Is there any way to free the pipe? I don't know where the supply comes to the house.

    Any help appreciated, thanks.

    The pouring water over stopcock valve idea sometimes works but its one of those one in a million things. If you've ever looked at frozen footpaths etc, first places you'll see starting to melt is metal lids esb, eircom etc. Mains stops working after a freeze due to frost plugs, mostly in exposed pipework or underground pipes close to surface. Mains can have more than one frost plug, prob what you have.

    Once water moves it will soon clear a frost plug. Could be a case where you've got another frost plug where mains enters @ house. If your outside tap is close, open cold @ kitchen sink, go to outside tap, hold hand firmly over spout, open outside tap. If pressure in outside tap is strong, by holding hand over it, your forcing the pressure against any frost plugs close by. Pressure could be stronger than existing pressure on frost plug, just depends on how outside tap is teed off main. Could be enough pressure to crate a small opening, if any water makes it back @ kitchen sink, wont be long before plug clears.

    Best advice I can give with out using tools etc. You could disconnect mains under sink and re pipe using outside tap to supply house. Not sure if your experience stretches that far.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 108 ✭✭SonasRec


    items wrote: »
    The pouring water over stopcock valve idea sometimes works but its one of those one in a million things. If you've ever looked at frozen footpaths etc, first places you'll see starting to melt is metal lids esb, eircom etc. Mains stops working after a freeze due to frost plugs, mostly in exposed pipework or underground pipes close to surface. Mains can have more than one frost plug, prob what you have.

    Once water moves it will soon clear a frost plug. Could be a case where you've got another frost plug where mains enters @ house. If your outside tap is close, open cold @ kitchen sink, go to outside tap, hold hand firmly over spout, open outside tap. If pressure in outside tap is strong, by holding hand over it, your forcing the pressure against any frost plugs close by. Pressure could be stronger than existing pressure on frost plug, just depends on how outside tap is teed off main. Could be enough pressure to crate a small opening, if any water makes it back @ kitchen sink, wont be long before plug clears.

    Best advice I can give with out using tools etc. You could disconnect mains under sink and re pipe using outside tap to supply house. Not sure if your experience stretches that far.

    Hey Items.

    Great suggestion, thanks. Tried, but failed. The outside tap was already freezing up for the night. Gave it a go but no joy.

    Re-plumbing outside tap to the kitchen sink sounds like a great suggestion. I would'nt attempt it myself but I could try to get someone in. I've a feeling this problem ain't going to go away in the next few days.

    Thanks again.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 672 ✭✭✭items


    SonasRec wrote: »
    Hey Items.

    Great suggestion, thanks. Tried, but failed. The outside tap was already freezing up for the night. Gave it a go but no joy.

    Re-plumbing outside tap to the kitchen sink sounds like a great suggestion. I would'nt attempt it myself but I could try to get someone in. I've a feeling this problem ain't going to go away in the next few days.

    Thanks again.

    Let outside tap run on a bit, connect a hose to water flowers overnight, into bucket for washing car in morning, anything at all. Since you have a supply best try to hold onto it. Over night, provided it's not a massive freeze, once outside tap is running a little, it shouldn't freeze, hopefully you'll still have some supply to work with.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 108 ✭✭SonasRec


    Thanks, had planned to let it on a little.

    Was doing that last nite with the kitchen supply but got a water wastage concience and turned it off again.

    Amazing how you take stuff for granted till it's not there.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 44,079 ✭✭✭✭Micky Dolenz


    Unfortunately there isn't a whole lot that can be done about frezzing, unless you want to dig up supply pipes and insulate. This is highly impractical considering we don't get this type of weather often enough to justify cost. However insulating stopcock may help for some.

    Letting a tap run, if only a dribble will work, but wastes alot of water. When metering rolls out it will be costly.

    Maybe not ideal advice, but before a frezze, fill some bottles. The frezze won't last very long.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 672 ✭✭✭items


    SonasRec wrote: »
    Thanks, had planned to let it on a little.

    Was doing that last nite with the kitchen supply but got a water wastage concience and turned it off again.

    Amazing how you take stuff for granted till it's not there.

    I'm amazed a slight frost has left houses all over the country with this kind of trouble, both mains and heating. Awful problem with roads, some Co Councils have ran out of grit.

    Your stuff should still be there, bad practice has you without water.

    -2 up to -10 is not that big a frost compared to other countries.

    If your that conscious, find a few barrels, wheelie bin, anything to hold onto water coming from running tap, you don't have to open it full bore, just a trickle.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 108 ✭✭SonasRec


    Our weather seems to be getting more severe all the time, Micky. Think we're seeing some real climate change. Couple of weeks ago, i had so much water about the place, I was very close to flooding. Now I'm looking for water.

    We're just not prepared. I was in the Austrian alps a few days ago with 1 meter of snow & it makes no difference to them. It closes our country down.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 44,079 ✭✭✭✭Micky Dolenz


    SonasRec wrote: »
    Our weather seems to be getting more severe all the time, Micky. Think we're seeing some real climate change. Couple of weeks ago, i had so much water about the place, I was very close to flooding. Now I'm looking for water.

    We're just not prepared. I was in the Austrian alps a few days ago with 1 meter of snow & it makes no difference to them. It closes our country down.

    Amen to that, I have German friends who came to visit and laughed at us and our bad preparation for the "winter". They say " there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad choice of clothes". I think they have a point.

    Hopefully the weather will break soon and we all have frost free pipes.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 672 ✭✭✭items


    SonasRec wrote: »
    Our weather seems to be getting more severe all the time, Micky. Think we're seeing some real climate change. Couple of weeks ago, i had so much water about the place, I was very close to flooding. Now I'm looking for water.

    We're just not prepared. I was in the Austrian alps a few days ago with 1 meter of snow & it makes no difference to them. It closes our country down.

    That's pretty much how I see it, the powers that be have been chancing their arm for to long, everyone seeing it now.

    Few things you can do to prevent this kind of stuff from happening in future, but some work and costs involved. First is looking at heating, not sure if you've oil or gas, if you have oil, best look into updating boiler frost stat (if you have one) and then water mains. Dropped further into ground with exposed or areas where mains terminates properly protected.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,428 ✭✭✭sunnyside


    Blonde27 wrote: »
    Hi All
    Came back to my house after a couple of days. However, I went to have a shower (electric) this evening and no water came out. Does this sound like a problem with the tank freezing or a dodgy shower?

    Same problem. There is water from the taps but is that just coming from the attic?. I live in an estate. How would I know if the mains water supply is frozen?
    items wrote: »
    If your showers off mains water supply maybe its being effected by poor mains supply.

    No idea if it is or not:confused:
    items wrote: »
    Turn temp on shower to lowest setting, remove shower head,and drop hose down onto shower tray, try running shower that way, might draw some water into motor and have it running. Give that a try running shower max at 30 sec to a min. You can try it a few times but don't go mad. Turning the temp down will save shower from burning out from no water.
    .

    Tried this but it didn't work. Don't want to mess with it too much because I could make things worse.

    Any ideas? Does this sound like a frozen water problem? I don't want to call a plumber unless I have to.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 44,079 ✭✭✭✭Micky Dolenz


    Is your shower not working?

    Make and model? and do you have cold water at Kitchen tap?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,428 ✭✭✭sunnyside


    Is your shower not working?

    Make and model? and do you have cold water at Kitchen tap?

    Shower sounds like it's working, power-on light comes on but there's no water coming out. Mira sport, no numbers written on it. Yes have cold water in kitchen.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 44,079 ✭✭✭✭Micky Dolenz


    Mira Sport is mains fed, if you have mains water at sink, very unlikely to be a forzen pipe within the insulated envelope that is your home.

    Have you checked filter?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,428 ✭✭✭sunnyside


    Mira Sport is mains fed, if you have mains water at sink, very unlikely to be a forzen pipe within the insulated envelope that is your home.

    Have you checked filter?

    I'm female and not a DIY enthusiast, I wouldn't have the skills for checking a filter.

    How do I know that the kitchen water is coming from the mains and not the tank in the attic?

    I was away from the house for 2 weeks, then this happens at the exact same time loads of people don't have water so I was hoping it would sort itself.

    Does it sound expensive to fix if I have to call a plumber? Hard to say without looking at it I know.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 44,079 ✭✭✭✭Micky Dolenz


    your kitchen sink is always mains feed.

    Your mira is more than likely connected in attic, so if it's not insulated there is a chance it maybe frozen. The mains pipes to the tank may be insulated hence they haven't froze.

    If it is an ice block, wait. It will free itself. you may have to use Item'e suggestion to free any air.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,428 ✭✭✭sunnyside


    your kitchen sink is always mains feed.

    Your mira is more than likely connected in attic, so if it's not insulated there is a chance it maybe frozen. The mains pipes to the tank may be insulated hence they haven't froze.

    If it is an ice block, wait. It will free itself. you may have to use Item'e suggestion to free any air.

    Thank you for replying to me:) I live alone and can use the shower at gym tomorrow so it's not urgent. It was working perfectly before I went home for Christmas so hopefully it's caused by ice and I won't have to pay to fix it. I also have a broken microwave, will replace that when the danger of slipping on footpaths while carrying large boxes subsides. Days like today I hate home ownership:(


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 108 ✭✭SonasRec


    Hey Items & Micky. Just got water back. Thanks for all your help.

    Sunnyside, I feel your pain. Hope you get it sorted soon.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 48,381 ✭✭✭✭km79


    hi i have a seperate thread in the regions section but ye seem to be giving good advice so here goes:) i live in rural galway no water since xmas morning assumed pipes were frozen and would thaw neighbours came back 2/3 days later. i rang council after 4th day they said to leave it another day to thaw. the next day everyones water was switched off for what turned out to be 3 days due to poor pressure/overuse. all came back last night but not ours? we have not even had a trickle now for week and half.so couple of queations for anyone who can help
    1 is it possible the pipes are still frozen the stopcock is about a foot down tried hot water to no avail?
    2 could the mains pipe be burst underground(i checked attic all semms ok) i do not see any evidence on grass or drive of water surfacing
    3 tomorrow morning should i get plumber out or council?
    thanks


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 672 ✭✭✭items


    km79 wrote: »
    hi i have a seperate thread in the regions section but ye seem to be giving good advice so here goes:) i live in rural galway no water since xmas morning assumed pipes were frozen and would thaw neighbours came back 2/3 days later. i rang council after 4th day they said to leave it another day to thaw. the next day everyones water was switched off for what turned out to be 3 days due to poor pressure/overuse. all came back last night but not ours? we have not even had a trickle now for week and half.so couple of queations for anyone who can help
    1 is it possible the pipes are still frozen the stopcock is about a foot down tried hot water to no avail?
    2 could the mains pipe be burst underground(i checked attic all semms ok) i do not see any evidence on grass or drive of water surfacing
    3 tomorrow morning should i get plumber out or council?
    thanks

    Sorry to hear about your water, it could be still frozen, each house is piped differently, the pour water over the stopcock idea is one in a million, you could have a frost plug, multiple frost plugs anywhere in mains pipework, areas you'll never be able to get to.

    Mains could be burst, I've seen it happen after heavy frost. One tip for finding out if so. Locate outside stopcock, kneel down, place ear right over opening in ground, listen out carefully, if you can hear water passing through stopcock but no water in house, mains is burst. Might not be the case, in most cases, house will still have limited supply, burst main but no supply to house means pipe has completely separated, rare but not unheard of.

    You have an emergency situation, no water. I'd ring Co Council first, they have their own plumbing team, so its same idea only no cost, hopefully not. Trouble is will Co Council come out? if so how long?

    If you cant hold out, best call plumber, talk to next door, see if plumber can temp pipe up new main to yours from next door.

    Don't be surprised if water suddenly comes back on, its been happening a lot lately, different thaw out times for each house.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 48,381 ✭✭✭✭km79


    thanks items went outside cant hear anything flowing had checked the other night too heard nothing . im not sure if connecting to neighbour is a realistic option he not right next door he is kind over and behind me with a small ditch in between?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 672 ✭✭✭items


    km79 wrote: »
    thanks items went outside cant hear anything flowing had checked the other night too heard nothing . im not sure if connecting to neighbour is a realistic option he not right next door he is kind over and behind me with a small ditch in between?

    You can pick up a roll of plastic pipe, hydro or simple pex pipe. Hydro rolls come in 50, 100, 150 even 200 mtr rolls, same with pex. If distance is further, all you have to do is join them up, 2 or 3 rolls etc any amount. Cost involved though, depends on how stuck you are.

    If I were you, ringing Co Council or whoever water comes from is best. They should come out, re tap into main to provide temp supply, its not a big job no reason why they would refuse.

    Have you rang them yet?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 48,381 ✭✭✭✭km79


    if i knew for sure mains was only frozen and not burst and going underground into foundations or something like that then id hang in there for another few days. at this stage its more not knowing thats getting to me. ill be giving them a call in the morning again but the last two people i spoke too were of absolutely no help


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 672 ✭✭✭items


    km79 wrote: »
    if i knew for sure mains was only frozen and not burst and going underground into foundations or something like that then id hang in there for another few days. at this stage its more not knowing thats getting to me. ill be giving them a call in the morning again but the last two people i spoke too were of absolutely no help

    Seems to be the case overall, which is unfortunate. More unfortunate is not a lot you can do only sit and wait. Not having as much problems here, have noticed a fair few in other close by areas, if I was in one of those areas, after this episode I'd re do my mains, soon as mains came into boundary, I'd cut it, dig deeper into ground and bring in new supply, much deeper than one stated in building reg's from memory its 300mm I'd go 600mm even a meter down. Deeper you go, hotter it gets. Having no water is terrible.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,428 ✭✭✭sunnyside


    My shower problem appears to be ice. Last night around 11 I turned it on again just to check if it would work and it did, then this morning no water again so it has to be ice. Just updating because someone else reading might have the same problem.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 48,381 ✭✭✭✭km79


    council got back to me said as i am on a group scheme its nothing to do with them they only supply the actual water!!! they did suggest it was probably still frozen pipes ! also suggested getting a plumber to open up the stop cock to see if water was making it that far?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 672 ✭✭✭items


    km79 wrote: »
    council got back to me said as i am on a group scheme its nothing to do with them they only supply the actual water!!! they did suggest it was probably still frozen pipes ! also suggested getting a plumber to open up the stop cock to see if water was making it that far?

    Best of luck trying to contact group scheme manager, notorious for being difficult to contact. By all means call a plumber over, once plumber type person is there, few things can be done to improve situation. If possible plumber might be able to disconnect pipe work @ house and @ road, if plumber can tap into live main after valve plumber might be able to set up temp supply or use mains to force plug / plugs out of pipe.

    One way is to turn of main supply, disconnect @ house side then go under sink, set up a pressure pump to pressurize line back to open end @ road, should free it up. Depends on how much of stopcock is exposed, enough room to disconnect pipe.

    Hope you get sorted out.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 48,381 ✭✭✭✭km79


    water back after 3 weeks:D everything seems fine so far . one quick question the toilet cisterns are refilling as normal after flushing but water level in bowl itself remaining quite low???


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