Hot tap - basin in bathroom - intermittent fault of no water

[Crafty5000]

Hello,

Wondering if someone could possibly help on this, I am decent at DIY and can fix a lot of simple stuff without any problems but I am stuck!!!

Problem is every now and again I turn me hot tap on at basin in bathroom and no water runs, if a turn it back off and then back on eventually it will run again. Sometimes once this has been done you get a build up of pressure and it runs really quick once it comes back on.

Also have noticed if u turn another hot tap on (bath tap) at same time it will start to then run? This only used to happen say one in ten but now its more like every other time you turn the tap on.

Its a mixer tap by the way and no issues with the cold tap at all.

Need it sorting as getting more frequent and taking more times turning on and off to get it working!

Would be really grateful of any help to get this sorted.

Cheers
James

 

[Howsie]

Welcome.

How old is the tap? Is it of the quarter turn or riser type?

 

[Crafty5000]

Hello,

Thanks for coming back to me, its a normal turn on tap with full turns not half ones. Riser I beleive.

Tap is prob about 4-5 years old now.

 

[dancinplumba]

change the washer

 

[Howsie]

As above.

 

[Crafty5000]

Hello again,

Started trying to change the washer last night, I got the cap off the mixer taps and removed the screw, only problem is then I cant lift the top part of the tap off, is there something I am doing wrong here? Does it just need force to pull it off now the screw has been removed?

Pic similar to the taps that I am working on

Thank you for all your help so far

 

[JCplumb]

Usually yes, obviously don't get the stilsons on it, just persuade it 😉
Sometimes there will be a circlip that needs popping off first but it's usually obvious how they come off

 

[Crafty5000]

Sounds like I have missed the clip then as I was trying to gently persuede it off last night but to no avail, will see if I can spot the clip tonight when I have more time and take it from there, prob be back on tomorrow again ha ha!!

 

[Crafty5000]

Yes I am back again, managed to get into the washer and changed it although it wasnt damaged at all but still got the same problem, can anyone else shed any light on what this could be?

Thanks
James

 

[TomLane]

What sort of hot water system do you have? Combi (instantaneous) or system boiler (stored hot water)


Also have you tried to turn the hot on whilst the spout is off? (There is a method to the madness behind this)

 

[Crafty5000]

Hi yes its a combi system, no not tried to remove the spout. Do you mean the U bend where water comes out of?

Cheers
James

 

[TomLane]

Yes, that bit.

Before you do that though, there may be a flow restrictor in the end of the spout that may be causing intermittent problems. Initially try to see if there is a nozzle at the end of the spout & see what is in there!

Are there any isolation valves or check valves on the pipe work before the tap?

 

[Crafty5000]

There is a little white plastic thingy in there but never had it out, if that was an issue would it not cause issues with the cold tap? Just really puzzled as to why the cold never has any issues?

Isolation valves or check valves? I dont think so?

Everytime I have worked on it have turned mains water off as none of them quick ones to just turn that tap off am afraid so been having to turn the whole bloody thing off, am I thinking the right thing here as to what you asked me?

Cheers
James

 

[kozak1968]

Sometimes the spindle can get worn and the washer seating sticks or comes off. When you turn the tap off and on it catches on the thread. Advise new tap.

 

[TomLane]

Under normal circumstances isolating the water supply at the mains stop tap should not cause you any problems.

Other than problem with bathroom basin tap have you had any problems with other taps in the house?

How long ago was the bathroom tap installed & how long has the problem been occurring?

Sorry for all the questions, just trying to rule out a few potential issues!

 

[Crafty5000]

No probs bout all questions!

All other taps have no issues just this one, it has been in about 4/5 years now. Issue has been there for about 18 months but was happening once in a blue moon, over last 3/4 months it happens more and more, we have just put up with it but looking to rent house out in the new year hence the reason trying to rectify it now.

 

[JCplumb]

This may be being over-thought out. My guess is the washer is slipping. When you put the new washer in was it solid against the backplate, and was the backplate solid in there - i.e. only able to move when the tap was turned.
First thing to try is swap the cartridges over, if it does the same thing on the cold side then you know it's the cartridge and can take it to a plumbers merchant for a replacement.

 

[Crafty5000]

I was going to swap the cartridges over last night but I must confess wasnt sure if this would cause any issues with the direction you turn the tap on and off etc???

I am happy to just replace the cartridge if not expensive?

 

[JCplumb]

Unless they're 1/4 turn taps (which the ones in the pic aren't) then you will have no problems swapping them over and it will tell you where the problem is.
Replacement tap valves are about £7

 

[Crafty5000]

Great I will try and get some replacements, anywhere you suggest is best to get the replacements?

Plumb centre? Online?

Thank you for all the help

 

[glenno1]

The sleeve may have come too far down the internal thread and the hexagonal nut come out of its housing