How do I cap off a water pipe?

[Donquixote]

Hi all!

I've just replaced my ageing washing machine with a new model. The new machine is cold-water fill only, so I have plumbed it in and it's working fine but I'm now left with a hot water connection that I don't need. Both the hot and cold water feed pipes are copper with a chrome 3/4" threaded end fitment (where the washing machine intake hoses attach) and each has a turnable switch/valve to turn the flow of water on and off; at the moment I simply have the hot water valve closed (as I no longer need the hot water feed for the new machine) but I'd like to cap off the pipe completely just for peace of mind. If the valve was ever accidentally switched I would have hot water gushing all over my kitchen! I'm just unsure of how to go about this. Is there a fitting I can screw onto the end of the pipe to cap it off, or do I need to have it soldered? I've seen 'socket end' fitments in Wickes' plumbing department but I'm not sure whether this is actually what I need.

Many thanks in advance,
Don

[johnk]

The fitting is a cap with an extermal thread and a taper for the olive to seal to. If you remove the valve you'll have water gushing out so find a valve further upstream first.

[razza]

I would leave it,you may well need it sometime in the future.

[carrust]

Go to a plumbers merchants and explain the problem, they should have a 3/4" B.S.P cap to fit the valve. You'll also need some P.T.F.E tape to seal the thread.

[ChuckFickens]

Personally I wouldn't bother, once the tap is shut it won't leak.... but if you want the peace of mind..

http://www.toolstatio...5mm/d20/sd3143/p47977

[carrust]

Chuck. The stop-end shown will only work on a bare pipe, it wont work on a threaded valve.

[ChuckFickens]

Ah yes so it is.... that will teach me to look properly :)

http://www.ebay.co.uk...ing-Nut-/110429012905

[Old_Geezer]

Ah, you cut that bit off ;-)
http://www.hobuk.co.u..._campaign=google_base

[ChuckFickens]

The cheap option is to cut the connector of the end of the old pipe and put a 2p inside the end of it and screw it on the end of the tap :)

[The Builder]

Chuck's "push-on" stop-end is the one that most plumbers use now. Either cut the pipe (use a proper pipecutter .......... a hacksaw leaves a rough edge that can cut the sealing ring.
Or ................. unscrew the on/off valve, take off the brass olive (might be difficult), then push the stop-end onto the bare pipe end. :o)

[Donquixote]

Thanks for the advice, much appreciated. The two pipes are underneath my kitchen sink and part of a very old plumbing system in an even older house, definitely not a modern easy-access system, so it really does need blocking off just in case the switch ever gets nudged and my kitchen fills with hot water! The brass end cap/stop looks like it will do the job perfectly. Thank you! :)

Don

[kia cat]

If it's like this
http://www.screwfix.c...out-check-valve/51231
can't you just turn then lever to "off" , then unscrew the little plastic lever?

[The Builder]

Lateral thinking ............... I knew cat's were intelligent. Of course, remove the handle (one screw). It's impossible to open the valve accidentally .................... doh!

[Donquixote]

Aaaaah, genius! Good work, kia cat...I'll just do that. Brilliant.

[Ankou]

as said, leave it in place and take off the lever, or buy one of these to screw on the end

http://www.e-lectrica...ree-shipping-21-p.asp

[keyplus90]

As said just do what the people who knows are telling you.