Hot water trickle

[messica]

I live in a two-bedroom terrace. Having problem with the hot water upstairs in the bathroom:
- Cold water works fine in the bathroom.
- Hot water in the bathroom works for about 5 seconds as a trickle, then stops completely.
- Both hot and cold water are working fine in the kitchen below.

We have a combi-boiler located in the kitchen.
Hot water cylinder is in the bathroom cupboard, with the cold water storage tank directly above it.

Everything worked fine yesterday.

Cause of the problem? Solutions?

Thank you.

 

[diamondgas]

:welcome: to the forum messica ..... Are you sure the boiler in the kitchen is a combi? reason I ask is that it's possible that the kitchen is running off the combi but the cylinder is supplying water for the bathroom! Is the hand basin & bath hot taps in the bathroom the same?

 

[messica]

Boiler is a GlowWorm Space-saver.
Both bathroom sink and bath are fitted with mixer taps - both of which now supply no hot water.

 

[diamondgas]

Boiler is a GlowWorm Space-saver.
Both bathroom sink and bath are fitted with mixer taps - both of which now supply no hot water.

Something is obviously restricting the hot water flow. Does your kitchen sink hot run continuously or eventually slow down too? You some times have to wait a bit longer to see if it's the same or not! If you have continuous flow through the kitchen hot then I'd be wanting to check the pipework to the bathroom. Do you know if the bathroom mixers are thermostatically controlled?

 

[messica]

Kitchen hot runs fine, as far as I can tell.

Tried to run a bath yesterday evening, with no success. Have had the hot water switched on for at least 3 hours since then.

Not sure about the bathroom mixers being thermo controlled. I would imagine not.

Where should I be looking for problems?

 

[diamondgas]

You could check the cold water storage is full of water first of all messica. It most probably is if your getting plenty flow to the kitchen! It's unlikely that both mixers if thermostatic would fail at the same time! It is also possible that you have an airlock in the bathroom supply. Is the cold to the bath room mains fed do you know?

 

[messica]

Mains fed? Sorry, I've reached the end of my knowledge there! How would I check that?
And how would I go about sorting an airlock (if that is indeed the problem)

 

[diamondgas]

Mains fed? Sorry, I've reached the end of my knowledge there! How would I check that?
And how would I go about sorting an airlock (if that is indeed the problem)

Mains fed is from your cold water stopcock

There's a knack to back feeding through your mixer tap that requires a bit of jiggling and you usually get wet in the process. It involves cupping your hand over the spout and turning both taps on. If you get it right your hand acts as a passage for the mains water to push back down the ho****er pipe! WARNING Hot Water, don't do it for to long, AND be prepared to get squirted

 

[messica]

Well that sounds like a bit of fun, and certainly nothing too technical either!!! Will give it a go later on. Thanks for your replies! Most helpful...

 

[diamondgas]

Your welcome COme back and let us know how you get on. There are plenty more plumbers on here who'll be able to give you other ideas and help. Check the cold feed tank first though.

 

[Guest123]

Have you checked the filter on the tap? This is a bit that unscrews in a anti clock wise direction and is designed to catch debris in your water supply. It's found at the spout of your tap where the water comes out. Use a adjustable spanner to unscrew it so that it doesn't mark the the chrome. I clean all of mine every 6 months and its very simple to do.

Otherwise, I'd advise getting one of the guys on here that lives close to you to pop round and have a look.

 

[WaterTight]

don't ask me. i'm a complete hot water.

 

[WaterTight]

hmm. fair enough edit. joke still works. i'll take it. how much do i owe you steve?

 

[messica]

UPDATE!
Ok, checked the cold water tank - and it's virtually empty.

 

[PlumbBobBob]

is that the big tank or the small one? whichever it is, it looks like you need a new ballvalve

 

[diamondgas]

UPDATE!
Ok, checked the cold water tank - and it's virtually empty.

View attachment 6047

As Steveb has said ... new ball valve

 

[messica]

Presumably this is our larger one, it sits at the very top of our system - with a smaller tank in between.

Looks like it isn't being filled up at all. What could be the cause of this?

 

[diamondgas]

Presumably this is our larger one, it sits at the very top of our system - with a smaller tank in between.

Looks like it isn't being filled up at all. What could be the cause of this?

By the picture it looks like you live in a hard water area ... Most likely though it's old age. Apparently it happens to people too! just trickle that is

 

[PlumbBobBob]

to me it looks like the ball valve is siezed with limescale and needs renewing. a very easy job for a plumber although you may get airlocks when the job is done. if you put a request in the looking for a plumber section there may be someone on here near to you who could come and do it.

 

[Guest123]

As said above, the ball valve is needing renewed or a new washer. It's "stuck" and not allowing the water through to fill your tank. Best to renew it as a new one costs about £10

 

[messica]

Thanks Steve. Will do that now.