bathroom tap suddenly not turning all the way

chezybezy

thankyou very much for all your replies.
I thought i would wait until my day off to fix, however i'm a little unsure which of the valves i should turn off upstairs. This is not something i figured i would need to ask for help with :eek:

i know i also have tank in the loft, unsure if this is used as they had to do something special when they fit the shower.

First Valve - front ish
Second Valve - back wall
Back of tank this is where the previous pipe ('back wall') goes - i believe
Top of the 'back wall' pipe

would anyone be kind enough to point me in the right direction? :A

Just to confirm, there's only two "big" valves, attempting to show pipe directions etc in pics

Le_Kirk

It won't be the 4th photograph. It will likely be one that feeds water from the cold water tank in the loft into the bottom of the hot water cylinder - as hot water is fed out of the top. Just turn each off in turn and then try the bathroom tap until you find the right one. My guess is second valve back wall as it looks like it comes from the loft area.

chezybezy

Thank you very much, I'll start with the one on the "back wall", test, then try the one to the left. I just didn't wanna start turning things that might cause a problem. Oh and just to confirm it's turn clockwise?

Geoff1963

It needs a new washer.

The plunger with the washer on the end, has a hexagonal shank, and slides in a hexagonal tube. When the washer gets worn, it pokes out so far, that it disengages from the tube, and then rotates a little, so won't slide back up. I think it is a design feature, to prompt a repair, because a dripping tap wastes water, and a slow flow will freeze in any external drain pipes.

Le_Kirk

chezybezy wrote: »

Thank you very much, I'll start with the one on the "back wall", test, then try the one to the left. I just didn't wanna start turning things that might cause a problem. Oh and just to confirm it's turn clockwise?

Yes, it's "Clockwise to Close." Be prepared for it to be stiff to turn. Sometimes it may help to try it anti-clockwise first if it hasn't been turned off for a while, as this dislodges any lime scale build up. Also, when opening after you have successfully changed the washer, always open it fully and give it half a turn closed.

chezybezy

Le_Kirk wrote: »

Yes, it's "Clockwise to Close." Be prepared for it to be stiff to turn. Sometimes it may help to try it anti-clockwise first if it hasn't been turned off for a while, as this dislodges any lime scale build up. Also, when opening after you have successfully changed the washer, always open it fully and give it half a turn closed.

Having a bit of trouble figuring out how to remove the "top" of the tap, I thought the top would pry off but I can't seem to. Maybe I'm wrong or not using enough pressure, can anyone advise?

Also turned off hot water valve in airing cupboard, but still getting a very minor dribble, tried returning on the bath hot tap to see if it just needed draining. Can I still precede even with this?

Le_Kirk

If you have slowed the flow to a dribble, you have at least proved that it is the correct valve. It is common for gate valves not to close all the way (after years of use), maybe you can open a hot tap downstairs to relieve the pressure a bit. Depending upon the type of tap you have, there will be various ways for the tap top to be fixed. Normally there is a prise out cap (usually colour coded blue/red) and under this is a screw. Undo the screw and he tap top will prise off its splines. Look at this link for some ideas of the different type of handle. Hopefully you won't need a puller but you can see the principle.

chezybezy

Le_Kirk wrote: »

If you have slowed the flow to a dribble, you have at least proved that it is the correct valve. It is common for gate valves not to close all the way (after years of use), maybe you can open a hot tap downstairs to relieve the pressure a bit. Depending upon the type of tap you have, there will be various ways for the tap top to be fixed. Normally there is a prise out cap (usually colour coded blue/red) and under this is a screw. Undo the screw and he tap top will prise off its splines. Look at this link for some ideas of the different type of handle. Hopefully you won't need a puller but you can see the principle.

thanks, oddly i turned off the tap but left everything turned off in the airing cupboard, then turned on the tap and got a large spurt of water. After a few seconds it returned to the dribble a few seconds later. Does this sound ok?
Also I did fiddle a little with the other stop valve, but i think its back in the right location.
Has a scary moment when i turned on the water (as needed to) i couldn't turn the hot water turn off valve - my guess is that it was an air pocket? but it has opened again, after i tested a hot tap to ensure i wasn't being a numpty.

i can't find anything showing how to remove the top off the same style of taps (see first pics) . I feel useless at failing (again) such a simple hurdle! Does anyone have any experience with my style of taps?

Sorry guys!

Le_Kirk

It would be nice if all taps had the same (or even similar) way of fixing. Possibly it all turns. More research and I will revert.

Le_Kirk

Looks like the top of the tap unscrews from the body. Sometimes you can be lucky and just keep unscrewing when you've turned it on (anti-clockwise) and the top will come off. It looks like there is an arrangement to use a C spanner to help. You will need to grip the tap spout whilst trying to undo the top else the whole tap could turn.