A bit of plumbing help please?

[TheDoctor]

I would find yourself a plumber. When he/she fits the new taps get them to fit isolation valves so if in future the taps need to be removed for any reason or changed for a different style then the process is pretty simple as you don't need to shut down and drain the whole system just close the nearby isolation valves.

I don't suppose there's such a valve on the run to the tap in question?
Make life easy if there is...

 

[BrianEvesham]

Turn the water off at the main stopcock as it enters your property, usually on the path or driveway. If the cold taps still keep running you have a problem, call a plumber.

 

[Night Train]

Something's not right, if I turn mine off,the upstairs will stop running in 10 seconds or so, downstairs maybe a little longer, but still not long.
In your place, I'd be tracing the cold pipe work from the point it comes in the house (I assume where they old stopcock is)...and trying to follow its route in the hope of finding an unknown stopcock. Either that, or your new one has failed, can you feel resistance as you turn the handle or is it's spinning freely ?

This^^^^

Tracing the route of the pipe work from the main incoming pipework is a good start.
The first valve you come to should close off the supply and there should be no other pipes joined to the main before the valve.

If you turn off that valve the water should stop. However, if you find it doesn't then you can check if the valve is not closed.

Close the main valve. Turn on a tap and find the water is flowing. Get a large screwdriver, or similar metalic rod. Place the end of the screwdriver against the main water pipe as close to where it enters the house, and then place your ear on the screwdrver handle. If you can hear water flowing then the valve hasn't closed. If you can't hear water flowing then the valve is closed and the plumbing is being fed from somewhere else.

If you find this is the case then come back and we'll try something else to find the source of the flow.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

You seem to have no plumbing knowledge what so ever so why are you attempting such a task? If you flood your house it will cost you a lot more than had you got a local plumber in to do the work in the first place.

A bit cranky today?

 

[Pat "5mph"]

I like plumbing
Sometimes I have come across stop valves (the kind you open/close with a flat screwdriver or a penny) that need just a slight turn to shut the water off. If you turn them further, the water starts flowing again.
Proper stop valves are much better imo, the ones you turn like a tap.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

A bit cranky today?

Can I just say @TheDoctor that ...I mean .... "one big stop cock" ...
Ahem ...sorry

 

[400bhp]

Turn the water off at the main stopcock as it enters your property, usually on the path or driveway. If the cold taps still keep running you have a problem, call a plumber.

You say problem, I'd say miracle.

 

[TheDoctor]

Can I just say @TheDoctor that ...I mean .... "one big stop cock" ...
Ahem ...sorry

Note new sig line

 

[Black Sheep]

And you are one big stop cock. You have to be one the most unpleasant posters on cyclechat, not just to me, but I see it in your responses on other threads. You really have issues.

Getting help on an internet forum and a cycling forum about plumbing when you have little knowledge and the risk if you get it wrong could be very very costly indeed which imho is madness. Getting new taps fitted is not that expensive if you have a plumber that knows what they are doing.

And as the OP has said,

I've changed taps before this kitchen was fitted, and the old stop cock worked properly then.

As such I think he knows what he's doing, just trying to figure out what's happening with his stop cocks, it's a fair question that doesn't warrant being told he's being stupid and going to flood his house.
If he didn't flood it last time, he's not going to flood it this time.
He's doing the exact same that a plumber would do, turn the water supply off, turn taps on to drain system, now he's just wondering if it should take the amount of time it has - something the plumber would know from experience.
Do you actually read threads before replying or just read the first couple of posts and then express your opinion?

 

[TheDoctor]

Careful...you'll be joining me on the Naughty Step.
You big stop cock, you

 

[Black Sheep]

Careful...you'll be joining me on the Naughty Step.
You big stop cock, you

My house doesn't have a stop cock, just a series of service valves. Some people shouldn't be allowed to do DIY as they just do something that kind of does the job (scotch block connector for mains electric anyone?)

I always try to do something that anyone else following me will look at and think "ah, right, that's helpful"

(please note, the stop cock and service valves issue in my house is not a result of my work.)

 

[tadpole]

My stop cock in in the next door neighbours hall way.

 

[Hotblack Desiato]

You seem to have no plumbing knowledge what so ever so why are you attempting such a task? If you flood your house it will cost you a lot more than had you got a local plumber in to do the work in the first place.

It seems to me that it is very lucky the OP has tried to change the tap. If there'd been a leak that would have been a fine time to discover he couldn't stop the water! Then the house would have been flooded and what would his insurance company have made of that?

A tip WRT stop cocks:

When you turn the water back on, turn the wheel all the way 'on' then turn it in the 'off' direction just a little bit. This stops the vale becoming jammed through furring up over time.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Why not just change it anyway without turning the water off if you can't find the stopcock. Just do it really quickly. You'll be alright. Probably.

 

[Crankarm]

Why not just change it anyway without turning the water off if you can't find the stopcock. Just do it really quickly. You'll be alright. Probably.