What can cause intermittent flow on hot tap?

[Neil23]

Can anyone advise? The problem is on a hot tap (not as the cold tap as shown) - the water intermittently stops and then goes to a trickle - turning the tap on and off the water then starts again - the next day it goes back to a trickle.

I don't think it can be an airlock - is there a mechanism, inside the tap that can cause this? and if yes, is this accessible by unscrewing the top of the tap? - The tap feels quite 'loose'.

 

[d36csr]

The tap likely needs a new gland. I'd suggest that you go for the full turn operation ones, as the cheap quarter turn ceramic disc cartridges don't last. They cost around £5 for a pair from screwfix. There are plenty of videos on youtube which will tell you how to do the job. It requires visual explanation, and can't be explained in words really. If the tap has been there a long time, it may be very hard to get it apart without specialist tools. You may which to buy a new pair of pillar taps. They're quite inexpensive.

 

[Neil23]

Thanks - are these for just hot water and not mixer taps?
How do these cartridges differ from a 'normal' tap valve?

 

[d36csr]

Thanks - are these for just hot water and not mixer taps?
How do these cartridges differ from a 'normal' tap valve?

What do you mean by 'normal tap valve'? There are a few types, some old and some contemporary. The type of tap you have in the picture most likely takes these, although it's possible that they won't fit.

Made4Trade Threaded Tap Glands 8mm spline With Threaded Collar | Toolstation

• Threaded tap glands to fit most 1/2" taps • 20 teeth on the spline • Code 55418 is suitable for taps that require a threaded collar

www.toolstation.com

When I go to fix a tap, I take around 35 types of tap valve, and sometimes I still get into trouble, and have to use a tap refresher, which is basically a pair of glands, and pair of tap handles, and (sometimes) a pair of shrouds, depending on what kind of refresher we're talking.


Fixing taps is complicated, hence plumbing being a profession to itself.

 

[Deleted member 120897]

You or a plumber could opt for a re-grease and new washer (old school), new inserts as suggested, or new taps. Is it this tap only affected?

 

[Neil23]

You or a plumber could opt for a re-grease and new washer (old school), new inserts as suggested, or new taps. Is it this tap only affected?

Only this tap affected - does the water need to be turned off (i assume so)

 

[Deleted member 120897]

Yes, water needs to be turned off