None or Low Cold water pressure after returning from holiday ?

[Stratus]

Hi folks,

I have a little conundrum. I got back from 3 weeks away at Christmas to find that my cistern-fed cold-water taps, have very very little cold water pressure, or in some cases none at all.

Bathroom Sink - sometimes I get a dribble of cold, but none usually
Bathtub - I get a constant trickle
Shower - nothing at all
Toilet - it re-fills, but not so quickly - so.. must be ok
Hot water tank - it also re-fills.. so.. must be at least a little

Does anyone know what my problem is? It hasn't been cold enough to freeze, so I thought maybe an air-lock or something? is that possible? It's a pretty low pressure gravity-powered cistern-fed system. And I'm on the top floor, just underneath (if that makes a difference).

If it is an air bubble or something does anybody know what I can do to sort it out?

While I was gone, the toilet was left "running" - in that the last user didn't do the customary "jiggle the handle" manoeuvre - so it's possible that the cold water was running for the whole three weeks I was gone (in case this matters).

Any Help would be much appreciated!

thanks!


-st.

 

[Mike Jackson]

Have you checked that the cold water storage cistern is filling properly?

 

[Stratus]

Have you checked that the cold water storage cistern is filling properly?

Hi Mike,

the first thing I did check the cistern is full, and tops itself up nicely when the water (slowly) refills the toilet.



-st.

 

[Dotty]

no. no. no.lol

Mike's talking about the large tank in your roof space!

 

[Stratus]

no. no. no.lol

Mike's talking about the large tank in your roof space!

LOL.. so was I!! one of the only things that seems to be consistently getting it's cold water (albeit very slowly ) - is my toilet. so when i flush the toilet, the toilet cistern fills up slowly.. and the ATTIC cistern, which is feeding the toilet cistern, also refills. (there are clearly too many cisterns in this discussion )

-st

 

[Stratus]

OK! I've spent the morning Googling this problem and this is what I figure happened.

The toilet was left "running" for like 3 weeks while I was on holiday. This may have drained the cistern in the attic faster than it could refill and caused an air lock.

I have mixer taps, and uninspiring water-pressure at the best of times, so I sealed the tap of the bathtub with my hand, and opened both hot and cold taps wide.

I could hear the water and air as it backed up from the hot into the cold pipe and into the cistern up stairs.. I held that for a few minutes.

and **TA DAH! ** I seem to have solved the problem.

Now I just have to change my toilet fill-valve - again - Here's a somewhat unrelated question:

What's the average life-span of a toilet fill-valve? I replaced mine 2 years ago using advice i found on this forum. I installed the "flushmaster" - it's been great.. but suddenly has started not being so great again. the water is going into the overflow constantly now. :-( I don't remember ever having to replace the old float-ball/flapper-valve / handle system I grew up with. but this fancy push-button number.. this will be the 3rd fill-valve in 4.5 years.

-st

 

[TBServices]

Fluidmasters pretty much last forever. I'd say your problem is the quality of the water entering the valve.

It may be worth draining and cleaning your cwsc and fitting a bylaw kit (sealed lid etc) to prevent any muck getting into your pipework.