Why won't my sink work?

iamdjdz · 21 Jul 2009 at 22:48

Hi to anyone who might be able to help..

The sink in our downstairs bathroom has stopped working, not suddenly but over a week or so first the hot tap went to a trickle then stopped, then the cold tap trickled and stopped, so currently neither tap works.

I checked the back of the sink to see if there were any taps or anything on the pipes but all there is are the tap connecters and earthing connections. The taps go straight down into the floor.

All the other water dependant fittings work fine downstairs, the shower, toilet, outside tap, kitchen taps and applianaces such as the dishwasher and washing machine.

Just wondered if anyone would off hand know what may be the cause of this, whether I could fix it myself or whether calling a plumber is the best/only option. The house is not our property and a number of people would need to be contacted before calling a plumber so if possible I'd like to save hastle and repair it.

Please good people of OCUK, help..

Doctor_Zhivago · 21 Jul 2009 at 22:50

You not been using your clit bang haven't you?

iamdjdz · 21 Jul 2009 at 22:52

Doctor_Zhivago said:
You not been using your clit bang haven't you?

I trust that was a deliberate pun, but that was pretty funny, and yep we use cleaning agents.

VoG · 21 Jul 2009 at 22:54

sounds like the valves are shot in the taps, you can buy tap reviver kits for under a tenner, tis an easy diy job with the most basic of tools. click me for tap reviver kits

Dave M · 21 Jul 2009 at 22:56

Trace the pipes back?

iamdjdz · 21 Jul 2009 at 22:59

Telescopi said:
Trace the pipes back?

Can't they go under the house and I have no idea where from from there, they were put in years ago though.

Doctor_Zhivago · 21 Jul 2009 at 23:04

iamdjdz said:
Can't they go under the house and I have no idea where from from there, they were put in years ago though.

Goes to the seaside from there.

D D Danneh · 21 Jul 2009 at 23:05

iamdjdz said:
I trust that was a deliberate pun

From another thread

iamdjdz · 21 Jul 2009 at 23:08

Right I'm a total novice with plumbing tbh, can sort of work electrics if they go wrong, but I've taken the top of one of the taps off but I don't know what to do from here, the small turny thing (spindle?) on the top of the bolt turns but no water comes out. Do I have to unscrew the whole thing with a spanner, I'm kind of afraid of flooding the place or breaking it though...?

VoG · 21 Jul 2009 at 23:16

if you haven't turned the water off & drained the system then stop right there or your gonna be flooded in no time.

iamdjdz · 21 Jul 2009 at 23:21

VoG said:
if you haven't turned the water off & drained the system then stop right there or your gonna be flooded in no time.

I think I know what to do now after reading other forums etc, but I also think it would be smarter to do tomorrow in the day time, and I think a trip to B&Q to buy new taps is necessary as well. Yea I'm not going to take the top off because I can't isolate the water supply to the taps and so I need to turn off the water for the house.

VoG · 21 Jul 2009 at 23:28

don't be in a hurry to buy new taps till you've actually physically inspected the old ones, depending on the type of valve assembly inside the taps, they can can come apart over time, so you could well get away with just a quick tap strip/valve re-assemble with out having to spend any money.