Free Personal Plumbing Info.

tartanannie

I have a very old boiler which leaks and is also incredibly noisy .Is there any way to repair a leak .Also how do you get an old tank out of a loft?

tartanannie

I forgot to say thanks Martin for another wonderful idea .

steve42

Hi Ian,
The hot water in the bathroom seems to lack pressure and comes out of the taps very slowly. Sometimes accompanied with splutters. I have drained the system and refilled but seems to have made no difference. I was wondering if the pump was working (how can you tell?). the whole system (water and heating) also suffers from all sorts of loud noises when it's first turned on - any ideas?

swmbo_3

Hi Ian,

Our stopcock is hard to reach and very stiff, can you advice on possible implement to help reach and turn?

Thank you

plumb1_2

ursulasgoldmine wrote:

toilet problem.....water keeps running constantly down at the back of pan and doesnt stop when flushing is complete. Can I remedy this myself or do I need a plummer. It is a new system. Thanks.

New flush pipe cone or doughnut washer req,if you are good @ diy then yes you can do this

dragonfly02

hey there Ian, a couple of minor problems i hope you can help with as I feel silly getting a plumber out for such simple jobs.
My bathroom sink tap drips and the tap knob turney thing also just spins where the metal peice beneath has sheared off.
I know i need to remove this piece to get to the washer but when i try to loosen it the tap turns the other way thus causing leakege from under the sink, is there a way to stop the tap turning so i can remove the metal thingy? and once i manage to get the metal piece out is it a standard size that i can just purchase or should i take the whole piece with me when i buy replacement?

One other thing is my hot water, if i run the hot tap fully open i can easily run a bath for my young children without using any cold (as it is only luke warm water) but if i want a hot bath for myself i have to turn the tap on a small amount so it takes forever to fill the bath. Any ideas on what the problem could be?

if its a job for a plumber could you give me a rough guide price as i'm scared of cowboy plumbers taking advantage.

Hey Martin just wondering if you got any wee ideas about getting an electrician on too hehehe, this is a F.A.B idea!!!!!

bruce2110

vinney - two things to try for your bath and basin:- remove your bath pannel and then remove bath waste trap (under bath near taps should be able to undo by hand) and thoughly clean the trap, repeat the same for your basin, depending on the type of basin you have this could be more tricky, you may need to move the pedastol slightly to one side to get access to the trap, on some traps however, you may be able to just remove the bottom part, do this carfully though as water will spill out as you remove either trap

once you have done this, run a small amount off water in to the bath/basin traps to stop any smell coming back through, then invest in a good old plunger from most major diy chains, then use it to plunge the bath and basin, using the hottest water you can get, you will find this helps to clear most blockages from basin/baths areas due to the build up of soap scum/hair etc

cheers!! good luck...

acc

Hi Ian,

Are the taps sold in some DIY outlets in cheaper 'trade packs' inferior in quality to, eg don't last as long as, the more expensive taps, or is it just a question of style?

The trade packs are offered with a 10 year guarantee, whereas the more expensive taps have a 5 year guarantee.

Thanks.

allen11_2

Hi Ian,
I have 2 Aqualisa Aquastream power showers nearly 8 years old. 1 in bathroom & 1 in en-suite. The one in the en-suite was continually running cold after presetting the heat controls and it sounded like the pump was cavitating when it lost temperature. I have turned down the thermostats on both the hot water tank and the boiler to stop it airiating the water. I have run the shower on its highest temp setting for 5 mins and checked the inner hose for kinks as per info from manufacturers, along with any in line strainers. Still same problems. Taken the shower apart, cant see anything wrong put it back up & now temp control consistent, but the pressure on the outlet of the shower head is poor. About half the volume is being delivered. Please find an answer for me as these showers aint cheap to replace.

Allen11

plumb1_2

steve42 wrote:

Hi Ian,
The hot water in the bathroom seems to lack pressure and comes out of the taps very slowly. Sometimes accompanied with splutters. I have drained the system and refilled but seems to have made no difference. I was wondering if the pump was working (how can you tell?). the whole system (water and heating) also suffers from all sorts of loud noises when it's first turned on - any ideas?

you have air in you system,you will need to vent/bleed the system,if this is happening all the time,i would surgest to have the system checked out as it could cause a lot of long term problems,maybe pipes will have to be altered.

The pump does not control the flow/pressure of the hot water coming out of your taps.it is for the central heating.
If it splutters you have a airlock,easyest way to clear it,conect 1 end of a hose to the cold water tap an d the other to the hot water tap.
open hot water tap,then gradualy open cold tap,this will push gold water through the hot pipes,pushing any air with it,be careful only do it for about 10/30 secs,as you will be forceing water into your storage tank.