Plumbing Q - no water from hot tap.
Discussion
I’ll start by saying that I’ll be gutting the house in the next few months and a new boiler and plumbing will therefore sort this out .... but just in case it’s a simple and obvious fix I thought I’d ask.
I have a utility room with hot and cold taps. The taps are about 4 feet from the combi boiler. When I moved in around 6 months ago you could get hot water for the hot tap but only for about 5-10 seconds at full flow, then it would go to a trickle and stop. Occasionally the tap would work absolutely fine and that may (or not) have been when the heating was off but it was completely random.
As of last week the tap does absolutely nothing when turned on - not even a drip of any water at all.
The kitchen and bathroom taps all work perfectly.
Can anyone think of an obvious reason for this?
I have a utility room with hot and cold taps. The taps are about 4 feet from the combi boiler. When I moved in around 6 months ago you could get hot water for the hot tap but only for about 5-10 seconds at full flow, then it would go to a trickle and stop. Occasionally the tap would work absolutely fine and that may (or not) have been when the heating was off but it was completely random.
As of last week the tap does absolutely nothing when turned on - not even a drip of any water at all.
The kitchen and bathroom taps all work perfectly.
Can anyone think of an obvious reason for this?
Could there be a shut off valve or other obstruction somewhere between it and the boiler that is only very slightly open... When left for a while it lets enough water in to fill the pipework between obstruction and tap and at mains pressure that's what gives you the 5 second flow as the pressure drops, the flow stops. Then it needs to "recharge" ?
The water wouldn't be hot for those 5 seconds though!
The water wouldn't be hot for those 5 seconds though!
Pando99 said:
Taps goosed - handle moving but internals not !
that's my guess
That’s probably it that's my guess
. I’m pretty sure the tap has been in situ for well over a decade. It was just the way it worked perfectly a couple of times that was strange but I suppose that’s what happens when things are about to go pop!
SuperPav said:
Could there be a shut off valve or other obstruction somewhere between it and the boiler that is only very slightly open... When left for a while it lets enough water in to fill the pipework between obstruction and tap and at mains pressure that's what gives you the 5 second flow as the pressure drops, the flow stops. Then it needs to "recharge" ?
The water wouldn't be hot for those 5 seconds though!
The isolation valve is fully open - it was the first thing I checked The water wouldn't be hot for those 5 seconds though!
Hi,
I would isolate the tap, remove the tap head, remove the body and you'll know for sure. If it's a 1/4 turn you'll see the gate ingage when turning the spline and you'll see it full extend out and in, on a full turn tap.
If they're quarter turns, I'd recommend ceramic disc replacements like these - https://www.screwfix.com/p/flomasta-ceramic-tap-gl...
HTH
Forgot to add, if it all gets repaired etc and the tap still doesn't have enough hot water, could it possibly be the mains in is such good pressure it's going to fast through the boiler before it has a chance to heat up? Maybe try turning your mains stop cock down then slowing back up until you reach a sweet spot? I'm not a plumber by trade, just a thought.
I would isolate the tap, remove the tap head, remove the body and you'll know for sure. If it's a 1/4 turn you'll see the gate ingage when turning the spline and you'll see it full extend out and in, on a full turn tap.
If they're quarter turns, I'd recommend ceramic disc replacements like these - https://www.screwfix.com/p/flomasta-ceramic-tap-gl...
HTH
Forgot to add, if it all gets repaired etc and the tap still doesn't have enough hot water, could it possibly be the mains in is such good pressure it's going to fast through the boiler before it has a chance to heat up? Maybe try turning your mains stop cock down then slowing back up until you reach a sweet spot? I'm not a plumber by trade, just a thought.
Edited by WishIWasAJoiner on Thursday 27th February 20:17
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