Cold tap in upstairs bathroom flow problem

[pete1412009]

Hi all,

I'm having an issue with the cold tap in my upstairs bathroom. There is barely a trickle of water coming out, while the hot water tap is running fine. I'm not having any problems with any other cold taps in my house.

A Google search suggests that there may be an airlock in the system.

I have attached a picture of the type of tap that I have.

Is there anything I can do to try and rectify this issue myself before getting a plumber involved? I am a total novice when it comes to these things.

Many thanks in advance!

 

[moonlight]

If you have hot water its unlikely its an air lock most likely the washer is trapped. Do you have service valves on the pipes under the basin? if so turn the cold off, the top part of the head unscrews just above the gold rings. The screw underneath will then be visible, remove, and the head will come off. You can then take the valve out and check the washer. If you dont have valves on the pipes you may be on a tank supply, try by turning the cold mains off and checking you don't have water through the tap. If you have, better let a plumber look at the tap for you. Good luck.

 

[pete1412009]

If you have hot water its unlikely its an air lock most likely the washer is trapped. Do you have service valves on the pipes under the basin? if so turn the cold off, the top part of the head unscrews just above the gold rings. The screw underneath will then be visible, remove, and the head will come off. You can then take the valve out and check the washer. If you dont have valves on the pipes you may be on a tank supply, try by turning the cold mains off and checking you don't have water through the tap. If you have, better let a plumber look at the tap for you. Good luck.

Hi, thanks for getting back to me.

Are these the service valves?

 

[Aquarius]

Hi, thanks for getting back to me.

Are these the service valves?
View attachment 60231

No they’re compression couplings, but at least we can now rule out a kinked flexi hose.

 

[pete1412009]

Thanks! So does that now confirm that I am on a tank supply, and I should now try turning the mains off and checking that I don't have water through the tap?

 

[Aquarius]

No that confirms that you have no isolation valves and no kinked flexi hose if you’re tank fed then you will have a hot water cylinder and cold tank in the loft, if you’re not then you’ll probably have a Combi boiler or unvented cylinder. Do you know what boiler you have?

 

[pete1412009]

No that confirms that you have no isolation valves and no kinked flexi hose if you’re tank fed then you will have a hot water cylinder and cold tank in the loft, if you’re not then you’ll probably have a Combi boiler or unvented cylinder. Do you know what boiler you have?

Now that I do know! It's a Combi boiler - Greenstar i System Compact.

 

[JCplumb]

OK so you probably have mains cold in the bathroom. Turn off the mains and open the cold tap, if the flow of water slows down and stops you're good to go with the advice given by Moonlight in post #2

 

[pete1412009]

Ok will do. The flow currently from the cold tap is no more than a dribble. I’ll see what happens when the mains is turned off.

 

[JCplumb]

Ok will do. The flow currently from the cold tap is no more than a dribble. I’ll see what happens when the mains is turned off.

Flush the toilet a few times to speed up the process if needed.

 

[Aquarius]

Now that I do know! It's a Combi boiler - Greenstar i System Compact.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but a system boiler isn't a Combi boiler. System boiler will be for an tank fed hot water cylinder or unvented hot water cylinder.

 

[pete1412009]

You're quite right of course, sorry about that.

Just for my understanding, if I shut off the mains and then open the affected cold tap, what are the possible outcomes and what will each mean?

 

[moonlight]

Have you manage to sort your problem?

 

[Aquarius]

You're quite right of course, sorry about that.

Just for my understanding, if I shut off the mains and then open the affected cold tap, what are the possible outcomes and what will each mean?

If you turn off the cold main, and tank fed, then you will get very wet unless you drain the tank via anything connected to the tank, eg bath, toilet etc.

If you turn off the cold main and it’s mains fed, then it’ll be fine.

 

[JCplumb]

Just find out. Turn off water at stop tap, open tap in question, open cold on bath too if you have one, flush loo etc. When the water stops work on the tap.

 

[pete1412009]

Just find out. Turn off water at stop tap, open tap in question, open cold on bath too if you have one, flush loo etc. When the water stops work on the tap.

Thanks all for your advice and patience.

We have established that I have a system boiler. I also have a water tank upstairs.

I will turn the mains tap off and open the tap in question. I will drain the system by flushing toilets etc.

But what are the next steps after that? "When the water stops work on the tap"/"Checking you don't have water through the tap. If you have, better let a plumber look at the tap for you."

I'm just not clear what I need to do next.

 

[pete1412009]

There’s actually no cold water coming out of the affected tap at all now.

 

[moonlight]

You can now take it apart without getting wet and replace the washer and clean the insert or renew the insert.

 

[pete1412009]

Hi, thanks for all your help. The tap got water jacked. All sorted now.