No cold water in the upstairs bathrooms possible airlock

[Tumble]

Hi Guys

I'm after some advice. Last weekend out cold water taps in the 2 bathrooms upstairs started to drizzle then the water completely stopped. Called out a plumber, whos said there was an airlock. He did something under the kitchen sink which then seemed to bring the water back. Also replace something in the loft tank. Since he did his repairs we could hear alot of water sounds every time a tap was turned on. Also all 3 toilets are constantly dripping water into the toilet bowl.

A week later cold water upstairs has stopped working again. The toilets flush fine and hot water is ok too. We have checked the tank in the loft which is full so that isn't the problem. What could it be and is there an easy fix?

 

[Riley]

I suspect you have been using water in the tank in the loft quicker than the mains can replace it therefore allowing air into your pipework. Do you have a shower pump or similar? You may need a replacement ball valve on your tank in the loft or potentially a larger tank for your requirements

 

[Tumble]

Hi Riley

Thanks for your reply. Yes we have a shower pump. There's only 2 of us living in the house and we've been here for a year so I don't think our usage has increased for that to happen. We do have a shower pump on connected to the en suite which is working fine. It's just the cold taps upstairs which aren't working.

I think it was the ball valve which the plumber replaced last weekend up in the loft tank.

 

[Riley]

Ask him if he replaced it or just unblocked it it sounds to me like your loft tank is emptying quicker that can be filled

 

[Tumble]

Thanks Riley

He definitely replaced it as he charged us for a new part.

So if they tank is full in the loft and no water is coming through the taps there's an airlock caused from the tank not filling up quick enough from the mains I'm assuming? Looks like this is going to be a job for the professionals!

 

[Riley]

That would be my humble opinion. Is your stopcock fully open??

 

[Tumble]

Yes it is open. It's the one under the kitchen sink right?

 

[Riley]

I can’t tell you where it is I don’t live there
Commonly under kitchen sink. Is it fully open? Previous plumber may have turned off the water to replace the ball valve and then subsequently not opened it back up

 

[Tumble]

Haha! I just closed and reopened it fully and we have some water upstairs now. Only very little but it seemed to do something!

 

[Riley]

I suspect that you will find this is just coincidence. Did the water come out of Hot or cold tap??? Opening the stopcock fully just means your tank can fill at its quickest capability. Your problem is really twofold one is getting rid of the airlock two is preventingit coming back. All I have suggested so far is a means to prevent the problem happening again

 

[Tumble]

It came out of the cold tap. The hot tap is working fine. Yes it does seem like we need to get to the bottom of it and stop it from reoccurring

 

[Riley]

Are both hot and cold in the bathroom fed from the loft tank?

 

[Tumble]

Yes that's right which then feeds into the hot water tank in the airing cupboard (Sorry I'm female with lack of plumbing knowledge so my answers might make you laugh)

 

[Riley]

Do you have a mixer tap in the kitchen

 

[Ben-gee]

Get the plumber back to clear the airlock and ask him to check if the mains feed to the CWS has an isolating valve and if it does - to replace it with a full bore one.

 

[Tumble]

Thanks will do. Thanks for your help