Water business

[luckykaa]

My parents are on holiday at the moment. 

I received a phone call from a slightly panicked brother's gf.
"Hello.  Do you know where the stopcock is?  There's a burt water pipe and your parents house is flooding"
"Uhm...  I take it you've tried under the sink"
Angry voice from brother "YES!"
"Oh.  Erm... where the sink used to be?"
"Not there either"
"Shall I come and help?"
"That would be useful.  Yes please"

So I arrived.  Water was coming through the ceiling of the bathroom and the landing and probably the bedroom (I didn't dare look), and then going through to the living room and the kitchen.  My parents have an indoor swimming pool. 

After an extensive search I found the stop cock.  It felt like it hadn't been shifted since the place was built (1930-something).  Forced it off.  Water slowed down. 

That's the immediate problem solved.  Now there's roughly 100 gallons of water in the kitchen, wallpaper soaked, electrics not working (the breakers broke as the should do but I don't think they're going back on), and the fact that there's still no water when they get back.  I don't envy my dad's task of tracking down the pipe and fixing it. 

Remember - when going away on holiday, always turn off the water!

Now that's left me all stressed out and I need a cuppa.

Comments

[flannelcat.livejournal.com]

Eeek!

And now I've been running round the house trying to find the stopcock for /our/ house and failed!

:(

If you (or anybody else reading this journal for that matter) is able to find how to turn the water off in our house, I will buy them dinner. :P

[talismancer]

Is it in the cupboard behind the kitchen?

Failing that, it might be in your hallway.

(I'm guessing based on where we found various bits like this in my flat)

[flannelcat.livejournal.com]

My offer stands!

[tanisafan.livejournal.com]

Holy crap, I can't imagine coming home to that. I would cry.
And I just realized I know where to shut off the gas, but not the water. Now I'm paranoid.

[invisigoth51.livejournal.com]

Think of the bright side.
If everything's ruined then new clothes, decor, appliances, carpets etc... all on the insurance company.
There has to be an up side after all.

[luckykaa.livejournal.com]

As long as my mum can persuade my dad to get a decorator in that is. Dad's a bit of a control freak and likes to do this sort of thing himself. And it's not been long since they last redecorated.

Clothes and appliances are probably okay. They were nowhere near the leakage.

[l-j-b.livejournal.com]

In terms of insurance companies, highly advise taking photos of everything for loss-adjustment stuff. When our kitchen wall fell in due to leaking pipe, the insurance woman was pleased we'd photographed everything because it makes the claims faster.

[talismancer]

*hugs* and virtual tea

[masterofapath.livejournal.com]

There's almost always a 'not for user consumption' one out in the street under a little metal hatch, that and the option of throwing all the taps on to keep the water from making it as far as the leak.

I should probably go check I know where ours is. the only problem with turning the water off is if the heating or anything needs more water while you're away or you have people coming in to check on the place while you're away, plus it's only really worth doing in the winter.