Air can't reduce flow at taps can it?

[WaterTight]

I'm thinking an airlock can only stop flow at taps.
Re-washered bath mixer tap the other day, gravity fed. Left job when hot started to come through.
They now tell me it's not coming out as fast as it did before. They say they had same problem last time they had work done and it was an airlock.
I'm thinking more likely blockage or something.
What would be your plan of action?
I'm thinking check tank to see if any debris has fallen in it, check ball-valve is working. Maybe try and send mains water down vent to blast out whatever is stuck.

 

[WaterTight]

The taps are probably designed for high pressure (most single levers are) so the flow won't be great anyway. What size tails/flexis are on them?

They said it was never great but right now it's a trickle. He's now recalled that when they were installed they had same trouble and the plumber "did something" and called him back and said "how about that?" and they were much improved. I asked him to contact the guy (friend of the family living somewhere else now) and see if he remembers what he did.

Can you put another tap on the basin as a test? if that works then the issue is down to the tap and not a mysterious airlock

then if it is the tap I would strip it and try and flush it as best as possible

I put another tap on the supply at the time and showed it to him - it worked fine.
He just reckons that the problem existed before but was overcome by the installer and for some reason it's returned. I'm reaching the end of where i'd consider myself obliged to sort the problem.

 

[WaterTight]

Going round again to look at shortly. In the most recent phone call he told me the cold (mains fed) on one of the two mixer taps was now visibly better than the other tap's cold (last time I was there, they were equally reduced.) Presuming this is the case, surely this can only mean a problem with taps or supplying flexis involving debris, sludge or something similar. The cold for both taps tee's off the same supply pipe under the unit.

I think if I observe the same thing when I arrive then I can only recommend trying to strip down taps (if they will strip down) to try and remove any blockages and if that doesn't work - new taps (since I've already tried an ordinary contract type tap on the supply and it worked.)

I'm confused about where my responsibility lies though. Torn between the one view: "I never touched these taps, not my problem" and the other: "Never leave customer with a problem they didn't have when you arrived."

 

[WaterTight]

The only other thought is - even though the supply seems plenty strong enough to me when disconnected from taps (cold and hot run through a flexi into a bucket = loads of pressure) - is it possible that it was marginally stronger before due to some very slight remaining airlock or other problem and that that slight increase in pressure was previously just enough to make these taps work?

arggh

 

[Avatar]

sorry mate looks like another classic 'nightmare job'

Experience will allow you to spot them BEFORE you commit to work.

you can quote high, knowing that if you get the job, you will at least be well compensated. nothing as bad as a nightmare job, that you are gonna get paid a pitance for.

cover your back, and go in on an hourly rate - some people dont like this, but i have a take it or leave it attitude. DOnt mind fixed quotes in bigger jobs, as things tend to even out (some longer/some shorter). Little jobs however you could quote £30 to rewasher a tap, and be there all day.

I usually persude the customer to replace taps/ball vavles and the like rather than repair, as it it only a little more for them on call out, and I am much happier knowing that I have put a brand new fitting on, and my responisibity ends there . . .

You may have to bite the bullet and tell them, if they have a crappy old system prone to airlocks (which they may be aware of), then they will have to pay you more to sort the problem. After all the system is their responsibility isnt it?