Plumbing advice please

stormCat99

Hello everyone,

We have a cloakroom downstairs, plus an en-suite bathroom and a family bathroom upstairs. Since we moved in over a year ago we've had no problem with the plumbing at all, but for the last 2 weeks I can't get any cold water out of the tap in the main bathroom upstairs. The hot water is fine, and both hot and cold water are ok in the sink which is next to the bath. No problems in the other bathrooms either.

But for some reason the cold water just stopped coming out when I ran a bath a couple of weeks ago, and although I've checked since it's still not working :-(

It is a new house, built in 2002, if that makes a difference. Does anyone know what the problem might be, or what I should check / do to try and fix it? I've never had this happen before and haven't got a clue!

I recently took out plumbing cover with United Utilities, and although I've not checked the small print I think I should be covered. But I want to avoid calling them out if there is something I can do myself.

Any ideas or suggestions would be very gratefully received. Thanks.

trafalgar_2

As long as you checked your covered.....why not call them out...............your paying to be able to do that

stormCat99

I would but I don't want to have to pay the excess

Of course if it turns out not to be something simple then I'll have to call them out, but if it is something I can fix myself then it would work out cheaper!

Odyssy

I would guess the problem is with the tap - if there's cold coming from the adjacent basin which is likely to be on the same feed as the bath.
You may find that the washer has self destructed. Depending on the type of tap (and also if it is regularly turned off very tightly) the centre of the washer can get 'punched' out and the remains can block the flow. This exact thing happened on our bath tap. Remedy - new washer.
Remember to turn off the main and drain any water from the pipes before removing the top of the tap)

matt987106

I would guess the problem is with the tap - if there's cold coming from the adjacent basin which is likely to be on the same feed as the bath.
You may find that the washer has self destructed. Depending on the type of tap (and also if it is regularly turned off very tightly) the centre of the washer can get 'punched' out  and the remains can block the flow. This exact thing happened on our bath tap. Remedy - new washer.
Remember to turn off the main and drain any water from the pipes before removing the top of the tap)

good call

stormCat99

Guys, thanks both for your replies. I will give this a go on the weekend and let you know how I get on.

Fingers crossed!

plumb1_2

good call

So washers dont have holes in the middle? ;D
The problem will be that the brass jumper that holds the washer has come away from the threaded(left handed thread) spindle.So when you turn the tap on/off the tap turns but nothing happens inside(i know peoples heads like that) ;D
The tap needs stripping down,fileing and regreasing(silcone grease)This problem happens a lot with modern inported taps(cheap brass)

stormCat99

Hi plumb1. Thank you so much for your reply (I'm guessing you're a plumber?) I'll try and have a look at this over the long bank holiday weekend.

I hope it works - let you know how I get on.

Thanks again