I've got an elusive problem with the cold water in my kitchen. Any
advice/suggestions welcome.
For the last two weeks or so, the cold water from my kitchen tap has
tasted (& smelled) extremely odd - a cross between rubber and white
spirit. (And drinking too much of it isn't so good for one's health:
to use a pythonism to spare peoples sensitivities, it opens up the
sluices at both ends
) The cold water from the bathroom tap is,
however, fine. The problem is lessened, and largely goes away, if the
tap is run for 10-15mins, but returns soon afterwards. Boiling the
water makes no difference. The water isn't discoloured. The pipes
aren't lead. I've tried leaving both the cold tap and the outside tap running
for some time each night to see if that flushes anything out. Although the
problem isn't as bad as it was two weeks ago, it still isn't right.
No neighbours have had similar problems. United Utilities have taken
samples - but, naturally, only after running the tap for a while so I
suspect that they may not find anything (I've had the bacteriological
tests back - clear - and they say it will be another few weeks before
the remaining tests come back. Obviously i'm keen not to wait that
long!).
I have a condensing combi boiler (Ideal isar - I forget which model
though). This was installed around 18 months ago and had its annual
service 10 days ago. I asked the engineer about the problem and was
told that the boiler was fine. (The combi boiler also means that I
don't have any water tanks.)
I've tried disconnecting the dishwasher and washing machine (the cold
water feeds for which are close to the kitchen tap) for short periods.
No difference. The is also an outside tap, again close to the kitchen
tap.
This may be coincidence: the problem started the day after I had the
house rewired. The trapdoor to get underneath the floor is very close
to the boiler, and I wondered if the electrician had knocked it so
that some inhibitor from the CH had got back into the mains (the
filling loop was connected to the boiler, although obviously with the valve
closed). When it was serviced I asked the engineer about this
and was told that it was highly unlikely. (I've since disconnected
the filling loop from the boiler, but this hasn't made much
difference.)
So far none of United Utilities, two plumbers, and one boiler engineer
can think of what's causing this. Help!
Charles
advice/suggestions welcome.
For the last two weeks or so, the cold water from my kitchen tap has
tasted (& smelled) extremely odd - a cross between rubber and white
spirit. (And drinking too much of it isn't so good for one's health:
to use a pythonism to spare peoples sensitivities, it opens up the
sluices at both ends
) The cold water from the bathroom tap is, however, fine. The problem is lessened, and largely goes away, if the
tap is run for 10-15mins, but returns soon afterwards. Boiling the
water makes no difference. The water isn't discoloured. The pipes
aren't lead. I've tried leaving both the cold tap and the outside tap running
for some time each night to see if that flushes anything out. Although the
problem isn't as bad as it was two weeks ago, it still isn't right.
No neighbours have had similar problems. United Utilities have taken
samples - but, naturally, only after running the tap for a while so I
suspect that they may not find anything (I've had the bacteriological
tests back - clear - and they say it will be another few weeks before
the remaining tests come back. Obviously i'm keen not to wait that
long!).
I have a condensing combi boiler (Ideal isar - I forget which model
though). This was installed around 18 months ago and had its annual
service 10 days ago. I asked the engineer about the problem and was
told that the boiler was fine. (The combi boiler also means that I
don't have any water tanks.)
I've tried disconnecting the dishwasher and washing machine (the cold
water feeds for which are close to the kitchen tap) for short periods.
No difference. The is also an outside tap, again close to the kitchen
tap.
This may be coincidence: the problem started the day after I had the
house rewired. The trapdoor to get underneath the floor is very close
to the boiler, and I wondered if the electrician had knocked it so
that some inhibitor from the CH had got back into the mains (the
filling loop was connected to the boiler, although obviously with the valve
closed). When it was serviced I asked the engineer about this
and was told that it was highly unlikely. (I've since disconnected
the filling loop from the boiler, but this hasn't made much
difference.)
So far none of United Utilities, two plumbers, and one boiler engineer
can think of what's causing this. Help!
Charles
