Weak kitchen mixer tap

[markjacobs]

Hi,

First off I apologise in advance for my complete lack of knowledge, so sorry if anything I ask sounds a bit daft!

I had a new kitchen fitted by a local company a few years ago, which included the installation of a new sink unit and tap. Ever since then the water pressure from the tap both when using cold and hot water (but particularly when on hot) has been very weak, almost to the point of it being unusable. I've put up with it for so long but no feel like a really should have a go and try to fix it, if at all possible. My guess was that the newly installed tap and/or pipes leading to the tap are too restrictive. I've included a picture of the tap and pipes if this helps. Does this sound like the cause and if so how can I go about rectifying the problem?

 

[Dotty]

Quite probably taps designed for high pressure on a low pressure system.

 

[Riley]

Post a pic of the tap if poss.

 

[markjacobs]

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[markjacobs]

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[markjacobs]

Thanks. I've tried to post images of the pipes and the tap itself so hope that worked. The tap is of the type that can be pulled out.

 

[PlumbBobBob]

that's where your problem lies, the two feed flexis will have at most 10mm but most likely less bore. and to compound the issue, the water then has to flow through another flexi of reduced bore. this type pf tap is really meant to go on a mains pressure system.

 

[kris]

Yeh , its not just the flexis im afraid , the real restriction comes from the plastic fitting thats inside the body of the tap, they are removable its like a cartridge with a little joystick that acts as the knuckle tap lever, you can remove cartridge and flexis and replace with the appropriate fittings , but so many different types n sizes you need to make sure its right one, flexis are easy but cartridge can be tricky, hope this helps mark and welcome to the forum

 

[kris]

Ive had a few taps lately that have went onto mains pressure @ 4 bar and the pressure has been carp, i stuck my gauges onto washing machine connection 50mm below the flexis and it was 4bar, i stripped everything when i first came accross the problem , filter was clean at spout end so stripped the cartridge out and found that there is huge restrictions put on some of these , poop design im afraid only with certain taps, the small bore flexis also gives restriction ,

 

[markjacobs]

Thanks for replies. So to fix the problem realistically am I going to need to replace the flexi pipes and the tap? If so is that a straight forward diy job?

 

[dancinplumba]

What type of hot water system do you have please ?

 

[markjacobs]

What type of hot water system do you have please ?

There is a hot water storage tank in the upstairs airing cupboard which feeds the hot water.

 

[jaydebruyne]

Thanks for replies. So to fix the problem realistically am I going to need to replace the flexi pipes and the tap? If so is that a straight forward diy job?

as long as you can isolate the water, it's a pretty straight forward job to replace a tap. Just be sure to run the tap after you've isolated to make sure the water has actually stopped!! Where are you based?