vfrdave Posted February 12, 2019 Share Posted February 12, 2019 Help please In my current property the hot tap in the bathroom has been reduced to a mere trickle to the point it is more or less useless. Pressure/flow was never great but this is horrendous now. Other hot taps in the property are generally fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProDave Posted February 12, 2019 Share Posted February 12, 2019 Stuck plunger inside the tap mechanism. Especially if it is an old design of tap. Turn the water off, remove the tap head and check. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vfrdave Posted February 12, 2019 Author Share Posted February 12, 2019 It is an old tap @ProDave how do I take this off to check? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProDave Posted February 12, 2019 Share Posted February 12, 2019 You need a box spanner in there. How about just fit a new tap, one of the nice modern quarter turn ones with a ceramic cartridge instead of old fashioned tap washers? It could also be a furred up pipe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpmiller Posted February 12, 2019 Share Posted February 12, 2019 Unlikely to be furred up on this side of the Pond. Plus quarter turns don't work so good with low pressures. I'd dig out the box spanner... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vfrdave Posted February 12, 2019 Author Share Posted February 12, 2019 10 hours ago, ProDave said: How about just fit a new tap, one of the nice modern quarter turn ones with a ceramic cartridge instead of old fashioned tap washers? Not my house unfortunately, bit rental agent is not that responsive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vfrdave Posted February 12, 2019 Author Share Posted February 12, 2019 Having just looked at the tap again I got a bit of flow on just turning on but then was reduced to a dribble after less than a minute. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassanclan Posted February 12, 2019 Share Posted February 12, 2019 Is there a filter under the spout that might be blocked? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triassic Posted February 12, 2019 Share Posted February 12, 2019 Is there a partially close service valve under the sink? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vfrdave Posted February 12, 2019 Author Share Posted February 12, 2019 No filter or service valve just some old plumbing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProDave Posted February 12, 2019 Share Posted February 12, 2019 I think I would be cracking a pipe fitting open under the tap to check you really have a good flow rate from the pipe feeding it. Find an isolation valve first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vfrdave Posted February 12, 2019 Author Share Posted February 12, 2019 That's the problem there are no isolation valves in sight other than the gate valve to the hot tank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickfromwales Posted February 12, 2019 Share Posted February 12, 2019 Ok so this is gravity fed not mains. With the hot water running, put your hand tight over the end of the spout so the palm of your hand stops the water coming out of the spout. Then turn the cold tap on ( that will be at mains pressure ) and slowly force cold back up the hot pipe. It sounds like an airlock so back off with the chainsaw just yet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickfromwales Posted February 12, 2019 Share Posted February 12, 2019 Any chance of a pic of the spout first? Just to confirm that method will work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vfrdave Posted February 12, 2019 Author Share Posted February 12, 2019 This is it @Nickfromwales in all its glory. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickfromwales Posted February 12, 2019 Share Posted February 12, 2019 Just now, vfrdave said: This is it @Nickfromwales in all its glory. Tidy, cheers. As that's a basin the cold may also be gravity fed. Do as I said and try to force cold back up the hot, and if that doesn't work ( after a max of 30 seconds of 'reversed flow' ) then the issue may well be a cream-crackered tap. Does this match the bath taps? If so you'll need to get the cartridge out and get new replacements or you'll have to change both. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vfrdave Posted February 18, 2019 Author Share Posted February 18, 2019 On 12/02/2019 at 23:10, Nickfromwales said: Do as I said and try to force cold back up the hot Thanks @Nickfromwales that appears to have helped, though I did manage to spray myself and the bathroom with water trying to create a seal with my hand against the tap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickfromwales Posted February 18, 2019 Share Posted February 18, 2019 8 hours ago, vfrdave said: Thanks @Nickfromwales that appears to have helped, though I did manage to spray myself and the bathroom with water trying to create a seal with my hand against the tap. Prob just an airlock then, or a mixture of that plus semi-knackered tap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triassic Posted February 19, 2019 Share Posted February 19, 2019 I had the same dripping tap problem, my fix was the remove the ceramic disc cartridge and using a peice of glass and some Cif (any fine abrasive cleaner will do). I put a blob on the glass, dropped the ceramic disc into the blob and using a figure of 8 action polished the disc, this removes any lime scale on the disc and ensures it’s flat. Wash the disk and reassemble the tap. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vfrdave Posted April 13, 2019 Author Share Posted April 13, 2019 So just another update, this has still been an issue and we are persevering with it. Tonight I stripped the tap and the rubber stopper on the end of the cartridge isn't in great shape. Put it back together and tap working alot better but reckon the cartridge rubber washer thing, what's it called, needs replacing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vfrdave Posted April 14, 2019 Author Share Posted April 14, 2019 Anyone know where I can get a 16 spline cartridge? Or can I get a 20 and do a mix and match with the old one to suit. Existing one working much better but now not sealing off fully leaving a constant dribble of hot water. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpmiller Posted April 14, 2019 Share Posted April 14, 2019 Any good? https://www.notjusttaps.co.uk/spares-valve-sth-16-teeth.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vfrdave Posted April 14, 2019 Author Share Posted April 14, 2019 1 hour ago, dpmiller said: Any good? https://www.notjusttaps.co.uk/spares-valve-sth-16-teeth.html Thanks might try a replacement washer from there first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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