No cold water in bathroom sink (disgusting expansion tank) - SOLVED

[redrabbit]

SOLVED - I ran the downstairs shower (now that the hot water tank has refilled). This spluttered for about 30 seconds and then went normal power. Turned it off and tap now working.

Still not sure about expansion tank - is it a problem that it had so much stinky mould stuff in?



Hi

Cold water tap in the bathroom sink (ONLY THIS AREA) has no water. Bath is fine and all other taps fine. We haven't touched anything before this happened.

The boiler is only 2 years old. The tank in the loft looks really clear, and has a cover on top. It seems to be in good condition.

The expansion tank though stinks and had tons of mouldy bits inside. (see below). I removed all of these bits but it still didn't do anything.

Could it be air or something? I'm not sure what else to try next.

Pictures of expansion tank

And the stuff I fished out

 

[redrabbit]

FURTHER TO THE ABOVE

Just reading up about air locks. Yesterday I was having a shower upstairs. My partner had one downstairs.

She said it went really cold and then stopped. The motor or something sounded like it was trying to feed more water but there was none.

I therefore am thinking this is an air lock as it run out of water?

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

The expansion tank though stinks and had tons of mouldy bits inside. (see below). I removed all of these bits but it still didn't do anything.

Could it be air or something? I'm not sure what else to try next.

That mess in you F&E tank suggests your heating system needs a really good flush out, a lid to be fitted and inhibitor added, plus a filter. I'm surprised a new boiler has been allowed to be fitted, with a mess like that.

Left as it is, the fine water passages in your new boiler will soon choke up with debris.

 

[redrabbit]

That mess in you F&E tank suggests your heating system needs a really good flush out, a lid to be fitted and inhibitor added, plus a filter. I'm surprised a new boiler has been allowed to be fitted, with a mess like that.

Left as it is, the fine water passages in your new boiler will soon choke up with debris.

I was surprised to see that too. I did wonder if maybe it was just an old part of the system or something. Although I think it's connected.

The boiler is only 2-3 years old too

How much would a full system flush and the work you mention cost do you think? Just roughly as we have just moved in and money is tight

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

I was surprised to see that too. I did wonder if maybe it was just an old part of the system or something. Although I think it's connected.

The boiler is only 2-3 years old too

How much would a full system flush and the work you mention cost do you think? Just roughly as we have just moved in and money is tight

I have no idea, I'm not an heating engineer or plumber. You could do a reasonably good job your self. Find the low points in the heating system, where there should be drain cocks. Turn the heating off, turn the supply off to the F&E tank and fit hoses to the drain cocks and release all the water, clean the F&E out, run more water through until it all runs clear. If the water coming out looks bad, it might be worth taking the rads out one by one and flushing them through outside.

Whilst it is drained down, fit a filter to the boiler return - they can be had for £60-ish. When you refill, add inhibitor, plus a lid to the tank.