Plumbing Question: Tap randomly stops working

TNGL · 1 Sep 2011 at 01:45

I'm hoping some of the plumbers or those with good plumbing knowledge, will help me out.

Basically, I'm having problems with one of the cold sink taps in my bathroom. The problem being, it randomly stops working; by that I mean, I turn the tap and nothing will come out... I might get an odd dribble if I'm lucky. However, later on during the day... it works again, particularly at night. But if you turn the tap too much, the water will stop coming out again, and you have to turn it back again to get water to come out of it.

The hot sink tap and every other tap in the house works fine.

I'd be grateful for any ideas/fixes/suggestions.

Iamzod · 1 Sep 2011 at 01:51

Water pressure issue caused by others in the street using water in the day mayhaps?

Less usage at night = better water pressure?

TNGL · 1 Sep 2011 at 01:56

Iamzod said:
Water pressure issue caused by others in the street using water in the day mayhaps?

Less usage at night = better water pressure?

Hmm, but all of the other taps work, it's just this one. If somebody flushes the toilet whilst I've got a tap on, then there'll be slightly less water coming out of it for about 5-10 seconds, and then it's back to normal.

pepsilol · 1 Sep 2011 at 01:58

Tingle said:
If somebody flushes the toilet whilst I've got a tap on, then there'll be slightly less water coming out of it for about 5-10 seconds, and then it's back to normal.

HJappens in my place too. That's the norm I believe.

But my taps never cut out though..

TNGL · 1 Sep 2011 at 02:04

pepsilol said:
HJappens in my place too. That's the norm I believe.

But my taps never cut out though..

Yeah, I think it's normal too. But having my cold tap spontaneously work on and off isn't

.

Tummy · 1 Sep 2011 at 02:21

Tap just doesn't like you

Get it a present.

VoG · 1 Sep 2011 at 02:21

Tingle said:
if you turn the tap too much, the water will stop coming out again, and you have to turn it back again to get water to come out of it.

The hot sink tap and every other tap in the house works fine.

I'd be grateful for any ideas/fixes/suggestions.

if your only having issues with that one particular tap it could be a duff valve inside the tap, it's an easy thing to check & fix if it is snafu'd, all you need is a tap reviver kit from your local screwfix clicky clicky

Morgoth · 1 Sep 2011 at 08:35

I have a similar problem with the hot water tap in the bathroom, once the water starts to get hot the flow drops off to a dribble. It's quite annoying.

phil-k · 1 Sep 2011 at 09:06

i have had this in the past, my problem was the washer was old and hardened and sometimes when the tap was opened the washer jammed in place and stopped the water flowing.
A new washer cured it.
Also if the tap is turned off too tightly the washer seating can cut into the washer and hold it in place after a time

Gilly · 1 Sep 2011 at 10:10

OP, if your other taps throughout the house (hot and cold) all work then it is likely to be the tap. Is it a mixer tap or single?

Morgoth said:
I have a similar problem with the hot water tap in the bathroom, once the water starts to get hot the flow drops off to a dribble. It's quite annoying.

Your boiler pressure OK?

TNGL · 1 Sep 2011 at 10:25

Gilly said:
OP, if your other taps throughout the house (hot and cold) all work then it is likely to be the tap. Is it a mixer tap or single?

Your boiler pressure OK?

It's a single; there are two separate taps

Gilly · 1 Sep 2011 at 11:00

Swap them over, see if it changes