Where to bond

[sellers]

stop tap is at the front corner of the property, checked the pipe coming from it and I'm not sure what it is? Its a black grey colour led on the floor on planks of wood. Its all one peice and flexes round the bends, but is not perfectly round, kind of disfigured. Could it be lead? Do they do lead water pipes? Where would you bond to? The boiler is right next to the CU, I was thinking of bonding the cold water incomer to that?

Thanks

 

[batty]

How old is property?

 

[NozSpark]

Old lead water pipes were IIRC 1 1/2" OD

Personally I'd bond to the first bit of copper you can find.. lead crushes!!

 

[sellers]

50's I think, was wired in conduit and singles

 

[batty]

Could well be lead then you cannot bond onto lead, there was a thread about this a while back.

 

[NozSpark]

Are you re-wireing it???

If it is lead and they have the house upside down then now is the right time to replace the lead pipe, it's dangerous (long term)

 

[Andy™]

sounds like lead. dont clamp it - it will damage the pipe and may end up with a leak

 

[sellers]

Thanks folks, I didn't think it would be a good idea to bond to it. Never seem a lead incomer before, but now I know. It is a full re-wire, I'll mention it to the owner then.

 

[NozSpark]

You also sometimes get lead gas pipes... same thing there.... bond to first bit of copper

 

[Andy™]

thats if there is any copper.... been to a few jobs where the entire installation is lead!

 

[bulmer]

If its lead, then if you scrape the surface slightly it will be shiney underneath.

I know that lead is no good for you, but lead water supply pipes can't be that bad. Don't see thousands of poeple suffering from drinking contaminated water do you?

 

[ianmacd]

I thought that the utilities had the obligation to replace lead pipes up to your property.

 

[Lee321]

a judgement call would be find the point it turns to copper and bond there regardless of the 600mm rule. note it on the cert

?

 

[tom1]

If its lead, then if you scrape the surface slightly it will be shiney underneath. I know that lead is no good for you, but lead water supply pipes can't be that bad. Don't see thousands of poeple suffering from drinking contaminated water do you?

i think it accumulative, so just keeps building up.

not 100% but my old chem teacher said that the risk is higher in soft water areas, as its more acidic than hard water so the lead disolves into the water.

 

[mikep]

Most old house's main is lead from the road.

I was told that once you get limscale built up on it, it reduces the risk of lead in the water.

Ithink it is more frightening to see the Asbestos water tanks in lofts they used. lovely every time you clean your teeth & bath in it !!

 

[Andy™]

a few years ago, there was a lead pipe into a property. the place was empty at the time and water never turned on for months. he complained about the lead pipe and wanted it changed, so they sent him a container so they could test water quality....

... IIRC, they said he should have been dead (well, they didnt know the tap water had not moved in the pipe for months). and the pipe got changed to plastic

 

[steptoe]

Ive got something similar coming up this saturday, gas pipe is lead for about 4or5 foot after meter,(at least), disappears into ceiling after that, , gonna have to find some copper somewhere........