None or Low Cold water pressure after returning from holiday ?

[Stratus]

Hi folks,

I have a little conundrum. I got back from 3 weeks away at Christmas to find that my cistern-fed cold-water taps, have very very little cold water pressure, or in some cases none at all.

Bathroom Sink - sometimes I get a dribble of cold, but none usually
Bathtub - I get a constant trickle
Shower - nothing at all
Toilet - it re-fills, but not so quickly - so.. must be ok
Hot water tank - it also re-fills.. so.. must be at least a little

Does anyone know what my problem is? It hasn't been cold enough to freeze, so I thought maybe an air-lock or something? is that possible? It's a pretty low pressure gravity-powered cistern-fed system. And I'm on the top floor, just underneath (if that makes a difference).

If it is an air bubble or something does anybody know what I can do to sort it out?

While I was gone, the toilet was left "running" - in that the last user didn't do the customary "jiggle the handle" manoeuvre - so it's possible that the cold water was running for the whole three weeks I was gone (in case this matters).

Any Help would be much appreciated!

thanks!

🙂
-st.

 

[Mike Jackson]

Have you checked that the cold water storage cistern is filling properly?

 

[Stratus]

Have you checked that the cold water storage cistern is filling properly?

Hi Mike,

the first thing I did check the cistern is full, and tops itself up nicely when the water (slowly) refills the toilet.

🙂

-st.

 

[Dotty]

no. no. no.lol

Mike's talking about the large tank in your roof space!

 

[Stratus]

no. no. no.lol

Mike's talking about the large tank in your roof space!

LOL.. so was I!! 🙂 one of the only things that seems to be consistently getting it's cold water (albeit very slowly ) - is my toilet. so when i flush the toilet, the toilet cistern fills up slowly.. and the ATTIC cistern, which is feeding the toilet cistern, also refills. (there are clearly too many cisterns in this discussion 🙂 )

-st

 

[Stratus]

OK! I've spent the morning Googling this problem and this is what I figure happened.

The toilet was left "running" for like 3 weeks while I was on holiday. This may have drained the cistern in the attic faster than it could refill and caused an air lock.

I have mixer taps, and uninspiring water-pressure at the best of times, so I sealed the tap of the bathtub with my hand, and opened both hot and cold taps wide.

I could hear the water and air as it backed up from the hot into the cold pipe and into the cistern up stairs.. I held that for a few minutes.

and **TA DAH! ** I seem to have solved the problem.

Now I just have to change my toilet fill-valve - again - Here's a somewhat unrelated question:

What's the average life-span of a toilet fill-valve? I replaced mine 2 years ago using advice i found on this forum. I installed the "flushmaster" - it's been great.. but suddenly has started not being so great again. the water is going into the overflow constantly now. :-( I don't remember ever having to replace the old float-ball/flapper-valve / handle system I grew up with. but this fancy push-button number.. this will be the 3rd fill-valve in 4.5 years.

-st

 

[TBServices]

Fluidmasters pretty much last forever. I'd say your problem is the quality of the water entering the valve.

It may be worth draining and cleaning your cwsc and fitting a bylaw kit (sealed lid etc) to prevent any muck getting into your pipework.