How Much Does It Cost To Replace a Loft Ball Cock?



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Cost to Replace a Loft Ball Cock




job

Description  (these prices include all materials)
labour
1A straightforward ball cock change on an accessible loft tank.
£100
2Same as above but also having to search for and turn off awkward taps or reassemble cisterns etc, to do the job
£125
3If you want him to replace an inaccessible or faulty tap whilst he’s there, expect anything up to a days work plus materials.
£200


“Labour” at £175 a day (tradesman) £100 (labourer), includes incidental fixings etc. and tipping. “Materials” if mentioned, are larger things (a boiler) and stuff only you can choose (tiles etc).  Also VAT must be added all round.

Information Sheet on Fitting a Ball Cock in a Loft Tank


When your overflow is running, your ball cock has “gone”.  Every loft tank has one and eventually they all “go”.

The ball cock’s job by the way, is to refill the tank automatically every time you draw water off, either by flushing, or by brushing your teeth or using hot water.

Anyway, it’s time to get a plumber in, (scary or what)?

If the problem is a tank in the loft (cold water storage or central heating supply), he should carry the ball cocks for these in his van, they are meat and drink to him. If the tank is easily accessible, it’s literally a five minute job to change the valve providing there’s a handy stop cock.

“Cocks” stop water at mains pressure entering the loft tank.  “Gate valves” stop water coming from the tank, which is at a lower pressure. Cocks are usually brass and have a small handle like an old-fashioned tap, gate valves have a small red wheel,

Also he may have discovered that your mains cock or gate valve is either inaccessible, or stuck fast, or “letting by” (not stopping the water completely). So he may have to turn off out in the street (which is illegal), or tie up your loft tank valve with a piece of wood and string, (usually purloined from whatever he can get his hands on from the junk in the loft). Then he may well have the job of sorting out the sticking mains cock problem. This may be behind your sink, which may mean dismantling your nice new kitchen.

Nothing is ever straightforward with regard to plumbing, no matter how many fittings you carry, you never have the right one, you are always working upside down with (usually smelly) water running down your arm and everyone hates you because you can never say in advance what a job is going to cost.

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