Free Personal Plumbing Info.

db_saving

Hi Ian,

Would appreciate some advice please - my booler for the central heating system and water tank heater seems to work fine whilst it is in operation however when the thermostat switches it off when to room is up to temperature there is a large boiling noise and steam comes out of the air eliminator (located upstairs in the airing cupboard next to the pump). we have only been in the house for 10 months so do not know history - but had to replace the central heating pump almost straight away. the system is approx 14 yrs old and the boiler is a baxi with a flue fan.

please help.

momsiccles

Hi Ian,
We had to move our washing machine, removing the hot/cold tubes etc which had been plumbed in by a reputable plumber. Problem is that now we have put the washer back (being careful to attach the tubes to the right taps etc) the water in the washer overheats alarmingly. The water's so hot is ruins my clothes, so I have to resort to unplugging the boiler each time i use the washer. Can you please tell me how to resolve this problem?

a1i.c

Hi Ian

The toilet in question has a thin cistern. It appears to work on suction method to flush, with a U shape bend. One flushing, the water is forced up over the U shape and then goes into the basin. However, this is not working at the moment - the pressure on when flushed is not enough to push the water over the U shape,so the toilet's not flushing.

Is there an easy way to fix this? Thanks

kobopaul

Hi Ian
A combi boiler installed some years ago works fine except when running a bath. It seems unable to reach a high enough water temperature. I think flow is too great due to 3/4 inch pipe, is there a simple way of reducing the flow or is the boiler simply inadequate?

toffyapple

hi ian - i'm just about to add a 1.5 bar pump to a currently gravity fed mixer shower. - can you tell me if i have to take a new branch pipe directly from the cold water tank in the loft into the pump,(rather than a branch from the existing pipe coming down that serves the shower and then on to the bath taps), and where should i tap into the hot water pipe coming from the hot tank?

many thanks
toffy

pammie

Hi Ian

My washing machine smells awful and there is a sticky black sediment in the powder drawer and inflow pipe. I've tried everything to flush it out and also had the Water Board check our water supply (Which is OK) Its a hot and cold fill, is there something in the hot water tank. We don't get this on any other water appliance. Where is it coming from and how do I get rid of it? If I leave the door open it stinks the kitchen out. The washer is an Indesit, and only 18 months old. If I can't clean it i'll have to buy a new one.

pursekeeper

I have been led to believe that my drains are so old (over 50 yrs) that I am not technically responsible for them. summat to do with a law being passed after that time. Is this right? can anybody advise pls. Don't see why I should have to pay if i dont need to.

toffyapple

nao wrote:

Hi Ian

I have an electric shower in my flat (one of the basic Mira ones) and when I turn the dial off it often stays on for up to 30 seconds after I turn the dial, going cold in the process. I have fairly high pressure water in my flat, so could it be something to do with this? (the water comes out of the shower at a 'normal' rate though) Or is there likely to be some sort of washer in the unit that has gone or something entirley different?

Thanks for giving up some of your time for this - much appreciated by all I am sure.

Naomi

hopefully ian can confirm this, but i'm almost certain that this is actually a design feature and all electric showers should overun like this once you tuen it off - 30 seconds sounds a little bit long mind. 5 -10 seconds would be normal.

JDPower

Hi Ian,

Our toilet is semi blocked, it fills up higher than it should and takes longer than usual to empty after flushing. I have tried throwing lots of water down it whilst flushing and have plunged it as much as possible but the blockage won't clear. Is there anything else I can do to clear the blockage or any product I can use to clear it?

Also our toilet seems to be quite prone to getting blocked as this happens quite regularly (though we are usually able to clear it using the above methods), and our flush is not very strong. Are there any general tips you can give on this?

Thanks.

Janet_Turato

Hi, hope you can help - I have bits of black yucky stuff constantly coming out of the water taps (both hot and cold) and the bath taps and shower and always a black constant flow of black bits coming from under the rim in the toilets. The rubber seal inside my 2 yr old washing machine is black as if I have poured dye on it, and is obviously staining my laundry with bits of black. Called in water board who said 'it's algae' - 'stuff some bleach up inside the taps, this will cure it' Obviously not happy putting bleach up inside the tap where my drinking water flows from but have cleaned inside with bleach and always have used bleach in the toilets - can't use bleach on the rubber rim of the washing machine but have tried other cleaning ie jif, and this won't shift it - it is stained black. Any idea what is causing this - could it be my pipes or do you think it is the water coming in. Greatly appreciate any comments you may have. I do not have a water tank, I have a combi boiler.

Regards
Janet Turato