[Help] Plumbing advice

Perkino

Well-known member

Dec 11, 2009

5,986

• Mar 18, 2018

• #1

Whenever we use the washing machine, shower or even flush the toilet our bathroom tap has started to make an awful sound. We have lived here for 4 years

Any suggestions of how I can fix it

 

B

bhawoddy

Well-known member

Jan 25, 2011

3,621

• Mar 18, 2018

• #2

Yep, buy a new house.

 

Foul Play Rocks

Well-known member

Feb 23, 2013

5,180

• Mar 18, 2018

• #3

Change the washer in the tap or change the tap.

 

BN9 BHA

DOCKERS

NSC Patron

Jul 14, 2013

21,529

Newhaven

• Mar 18, 2018

• #4

Perkino said:

Whenever we use the washing machine, shower or even flush the toilet our bathroom tap has started to make an awful sound. We have lived here for 4 years

Any suggestions of how I can fix it

Click to expand...

What sort of sound?
Do you have a mixer tap or single taps, is the tap on the bath or basin?
Do you have a cold water storage tank in your loft?

 

Perkino

Well-known member

Dec 11, 2009

5,986

• Mar 18, 2018

• Thread starter
• #5

bn9 bha said:

What sort of sound?
Do you have a mixer tap or single taps, is the tap on the bath or basin?
Do you have a cold water storage tank in your loft?

Click to expand...

The wife described it like a donkey
Mixer tap on the basin, noise stops once cold tap is turned on
No storage tanks in the house, we have a combi boiler

 

swindonseagull

Well-known member

Aug 6, 2003

9,264

Swindon, but used to be Manila

• Mar 18, 2018

• #6

Turn it OFF and ON?

 

BN9 BHA

DOCKERS

NSC Patron

Jul 14, 2013

21,529

Newhaven

• Mar 18, 2018

• #7

Perkino said:

The wife described it like a donkey
Mixer tap on the basin, noise stops once cold tap is turned on
No storage tanks in the house, we have a combi boiler

Click to expand...

The only thing I can think of is the basin mixer tap has ceramic disc valves fitted ( under the tap head ) they are used on most modern taps instead of normal tap washers.
It may be worth replacing them or if the mixer tap is old, replace that.

One thing to try, on the pipes to the basin mixer are there isolation valves installed?
If so turn them off and run the shower or flush the toilet and see if the noise definitely stops. This is just to confirm there is a problem with the tap.

 

Jack Straw

I look nothing like him!

Jul 7, 2003

6,876

Brighton. NOT KEMPTOWN!

• Mar 18, 2018

• #8

Could be an air lock. Turn all of your taps on and let them run for a few minutes. Then turn them off. I occasionally get this problem and this fixes it, until the next time!

 

Perkino

Well-known member

Dec 11, 2009

5,986

• Mar 18, 2018

• Thread starter
• #9

bn9 bha said:

The only thing I can think of is the basin mixer tap has ceramic disc valves fitted ( under the tap head ) they are used on most modern taps instead of normal tap washers.
It may be worth replacing them or if the mixer tap is old, replace that.

One thing to try, on the pipes to the basin mixer are there isolation valves installed?
If so turn them off and run the shower or flush the toilet and see if the noise definitely stops. This is just to confirm there is a problem with the tap.

Click to expand...

I turned it off on the isolator valve and when flushing the toilet no noise. I guess I need to replace the valve, thanks for your help

 

BN9 BHA

DOCKERS

NSC Patron

Jul 14, 2013

21,529

Newhaven

• Mar 18, 2018

• #10

Perkino said:

I turned it off on the isolator valve and when flushing the toilet no noise. I guess I need to replace the valve, thanks for your help

Click to expand...

You're welcome.
The ceramic disc valves fitted in the taps are not standard, helps if you know the manufacturer of the tap.
If the mixer tap has two tap heads, rather than one lever. Take one of the heads to a plumbing shop and see if they can match the head up with a pair of valves.

 

Arkwright

Arkwright

Oct 26, 2010

2,790

Caterham, Surrey

• Mar 18, 2018

• #11

bn9 bha said:

You're welcome.
The ceramic disc valves fitted in the taps are not standard, helps if you know the manufacturer of the tap.
If the mixer tap has two tap heads, rather than one lever. Take one of the heads to a plumbing shop and see if they can match the head up with a pair of valves.

Click to expand...

This. I work for a plumbers merchant and the disc cartridges aren't universal. Make sure you take the handle / lever and the cartridge to get the correct match.
If the tap has a makers name or brand that might help.

 

Cheshire Cat

The most curious thing..

Nov 4, 2006

11,431

Sitting on a bough of a tree a few yards off...

• Mar 18, 2018

• #12

It will also cost about £20 for a new ceramic valve, whereas a new washer for an old tap would be about 10p.

Complete rip off.

 

BN9 BHA

DOCKERS

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Jul 14, 2013

21,529

Newhaven

• Mar 18, 2018

• #13

Cheshire Cat said:

It will also cost about £20 for a new ceramic valve, whereas a new washer for an old tap would be about 10p.

Complete rip off.

Click to expand...

Some are expensive but Screwfix now sell a pair of valves for less than six pound, they do three different types.

 

227 BHA

Well-known member

Jul 5, 2003

3,265

Findon Valley, Worthing

• Mar 19, 2018

• #14

Jack Straw said:

Could be an air lock. Turn all of your taps on and let them run for a few minutes. Then turn them off. I occasionally get this problem and this fixes it, until the next time!

Click to expand...

Wouldn’t have been an air lock because as the OP says he has a combi boiler so all is under mains pressure

 

Tom Hark Preston Park

Will Post For Cash

Jul 6, 2003

70,143

• Mar 19, 2018

• #15

Perkino said:

The wife described it like a donkey

Click to expand...