Help! Reduced flow from hot tap.....

Southend1

Hi All

The last couple of days, the flow from my hot bath tap has been really poor. This morning it wasn't much more than a trickle.

I pulled the side panel off the bath to have a look and here is what I can see:





The first pic with the pipes that look like an upside down "W" are where the hot supply splits into two to supply the basin (to the left) and the bath tap (to the right). The second pic shows how the tap is connected to the pipe (in the pic it's actually the cold tap but the hot is the same).

The flow from the hot tap at the basin seems fine so I'm thinking there must be a blockage in the hot pipe somewhere between the upside down "W" and the tap. Can anyone tell me if this is likely to be the cause and suggest a way to cure it?

If it makes a difference I have an open-vent conventional hot water system with a cylinder in the loft.

Thanks in advance for any ideas.

27col

It looks to me as if you might have a kink in the flexible connector to the tap. This is not going to help with the reduced flow problem. Check that both flexibles are not kinked at all.

Southend1

Thanks 27col. The one in the photo is the cold tap and the pressure there is fine. I had a play around with the flexible connector on the hot tap this morning and it didn't seem to make a difference. Will try again properly tonight when I'm not in a rush. So you don't think it is likely to be a blockage in the pipe itself?

BertieUK

I would say that the problem could be with the bath tap, it may be worth checking here first to see if the washer has collapsed within the body of the bath tap.

regards
Bob

Southend1

Thanks Bertie. I thought that initially so I tried to take the headgear off the tap but couldn't undo it. I started thinking blocked pipe because the flow starts off reasonable then dwindles. I think I will have to get my dad round at the weekend with a better spanner than I have to get the tap to bits so I can rule this out.

BertieUK

. I started thinking blocked pipe because the flow starts off reasonable then dwindles...

The flow will start off reasonable because water builds up a pressure within the system, then when you open the tap you release this pressure which is then getting obstructed possibly from within the bath tap assembly by a foreign object.

Regards
Bob

southcoastrgi

how far can you open the hot tap ? is it as many turns as the cold ?

Southend1

Cold tap turns 2 turns, hot turns 1 1/4.

southcoastrgi

have a look here this maybe your prob, if it is it is always worse on the hot as the washer will let water through until it get hot then it expands & shuts off the water.

Southend1

So basically I need to take the tap to bits, give it a clean and make sure it goes back together correctly aligned? Will have a go on Saturday when dad brings his spanners over. Thanks southcoast. :beer:

BertieUK

It might be an idea to remove your bath tap early enough in the day to permit you to get spares before Saturday closing. If it is the ceramic type of tap then it is virtually repair by replacement of the inner parts.

Take the whole assembly with you to your local plumbing shop to be sure to get the correct advice and parts.

Good luck
Bob