Gate Valve Used As Stop Cock?

[OldChestNuts]

Called out Dyno (contractor for British Gas plumbing cover) to replace the Stop cock as it was seized / stuck in the open position. Instead of replacing the faulty Stop Cock, the Dyno plumber put another Gate Valve inline with the dormant Stop Cock.

Is this all ok? I am thinking that does the Gate Valve able to handle the mains pressure and also the reliability over time like leaks and seized/leaks as I have seen in my other parts of the plumbing in the loft to the header tank.

[Atheist]

Gate valves for main water supply used not to be allowed as they can permit backflow from your system into the public supply. Stopcocks were allegedly acting as one-way-valves. A proper plumber might post with more info.

[The Builder]

I assume the stopcock is on a rising main, and not on a low pressure circuit.

Gate valves work quite differently from stopcocks.
Using a gate valve with mains pressure will usually result in water dribbling past the gate.
It won't leak. It just means you probably will never be able to properly shut the system off.

[The Builder]

I should add that the correct procedure is to turn off in the pavement/road.
Then replace the stopcock properly.

[Canary42]

I use a gate valve inside the house on mains feed to outside garden tap so I can cut it off in Winter. It's been in place for about 25 years and just this month had it started to weep slightly.

[Canary42]

/// I should add that the correct procedure is to ... replace the stopcock properly. ///

Yes, one can imagine with this plumber in charge, a series of stop-cocks would gradually build up over the years along the supply pipe LOL.

[OldChestNuts]

Just reported to British Gas about the is/concern. Other websites seems to think that by fitting a wrong type stop cock to shut off the mains could invalidate the home insurance if there is a mains burst that is caused by the wrong type of isolation valve used.

British Gas customer service asked me to rebook the another appointment to replace with the correct type of valve/stop cock.

[woofgang]

I find that Dyno do vary as to the quality of their employees. It took 3 visits for them to sort out a water leak in my downstairs loo. I have been told that they have a rule that if something isn't sorted on the first visit, the same workman must return. After two visits from the same incompetent who was quite intimidating in his behaviour in an "awright darlin'" way (and I am in my 60's) I requested that he should not be sent again as I found his behaviour unacceptable and didn't want to deal with a wet floor and swelling floorboards for any longer. The bloke they sent out then was really good and sorted the problem quickly and permanently.

[OldChestNuts]

Woofgang I agree with you about the quality of plumbers you get. It is regional thing depending mon expectations of the customer. My sister lives in the council estates and have lots of unemployment area, they sent a very incompetent plumber to fix a leaking tap over 5-6 visits. I had to go over and tell them where the leaks were. This is how incompetent. I think they are more like stretching the jobs to invoice a *** bill to British Gas.

The one I got today was competent but trying to get away with the jobs by doing an easy fix.

[Buenchico]

>>> I find that Dyno do vary as to the quality of their employees

The problem is that they don't actually have any employees.

It's a franchise set-up, whereby plumbers pay (a minimum of) £45k to join the brand but are then required to charge customers the fees laid down by Dynorod.

So the only way that they can increase their profits is by cutting corners on the costs of materials (or, if the work is available, by taking on more work than they can reasonably handle, leading to rushed bodge jobs).

[OldChestNuts]

Buenchico, thanks for explaining the concept of Dyno. This explains why some are just like trainee providing botched jobs.

I previously with Homeserve and they tend to provide better service. So look like I will be joining them again!