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https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl DIY Forum >> Plumbing Questions >> whistling bath tap https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1132585566 Message started by jake on Nov 21^st, 2005, 3:06pm

Title: whistling bath tap
Post by jake on Nov 21^st, 2005, 3:06pm

Hi all,

My hot bathtap hasn't been used all summer and the first time I went to use it this winter, it started off ok, but as the water started to come hot, a whistling noise started, then the flow rate dropped, eventually to zero with the tap still open. It won't let any water through again until the tap has cooled down, then the same thing happens again - a few seconds of hot, a rising whistle, and no flow. What's going on?

Is there a cure other than a new bath tap? It's pretty old (don't know how old as it came with the house) but would also be near impossible to get at.

Thanks very much!
Jake

Title: Re: whistling bath tap
Post by big_all on Nov 21^st, 2005, 3:28pm

no plumber but sounds like an air lock to me

have you got any way to feed cold to hot as in a shower conection fed by both taps you can bend or block offafter the flowes join together open the hot then the cold holding the hoses on the taps try this for 20 seconds

but dont try any of this till someone else either agrees or gives another idea ;D ;)

Title: Re: whistling bath tap
Post by jake on Nov 21^st, 2005, 3:52pm

The kitchen hot tap is further down the same pipe as the bath hot tap, and the kitchen has no problem, which means that if there is an air lock it must be between the T and the bath tap - a distance of about a foot. (I'm in a flat and the kitchen and bathroom are next door to each other in case you're having problems visualising this..!) Does it still sound credible that it could be an airlock??

The shower doesn't work off the bath taps but is separate. Could I get a length of garden hose to try to connect the bath taps together in case it is an airlock? Worth a try anyway?

Thanks,
Jake

Title: Re: whistling bath tap
Post by scotspark on Nov 21^st, 2005, 5:30pm

wouldn't think it was an airlock if it works ok cold????????????

soundds like a problem with tap. possibly stippin it down and rebuilding replacing washers would do the trick??????????

but what would i know i am a spark

Title: Re: whistling bath tap
Post by thescruff on Nov 21^st, 2005, 10:48pm

The washer is not lifting by the sound of it.

Wouldnt be a "supaspar" tap by any chance

Title: Re: whistling bath tap
Post by jake on Nov 22^nd, 2005, 9:53am

Don't know what a Supaspar tap is!! Google is mystified too..!

The trouble with stripping down the tap is access to the underside. It's in a very difficult corner and the bath panel has been boarded in.....how do you pro's get your hands in there?? Have you got an extra pair of elbows or something??

Could the washer be limescaled up? Can I free it without getting underneath?

Cheers,
Jake

Title: Re: whistling bath tap
Post by JerryD on Nov 23^rd, 2005, 9:52am

Try SUPASPA (no R at the end) in Google.

You should be able to change washers from above, no need for access under the taps.

Title: Re: whistling bath tap
Post by billythekid on Nov 25^th, 2005, 6:53pm

This Link will explain how to change a washer.

Title: Re: whistling bath tap
Post by big_all on Nov 25^th, 2005, 8:16pm

is that what youve been doing billy on your quiet times using your artistic talents and drawing a lovely exploded drawing off a tap ;D ;D ;D ::) ;)

Title: Re: whistling bath tap
Post by billythekid on Nov 25^th, 2005, 10:34pm

haha, not quite mate, my talents dont extend quite that far. No, I'm still without PC of my own, although should hopefully get online a bit more in the near future as missthekid is heading up to Aberdeen to start a job, so she'll take the laptop probably and I can use her PC as my own. thekids and me will be heading up in the new year. Hence posts will be sporadic for a while but I WILL be back to normal ASAP!

cheers

btk

Title: Re: whistling bath tap
Post by big_all on Nov 25^th, 2005, 11:21pm

didnt realise you where without a computer
i just thought you were talking to dewy on paltalk ;D ;D ;)