Water in Bathroom Dried Up

[PlumsteadGirl]

Hi,

For no obvious reason the water stopped flowing from the hot and cold taps in my bathroom (both at the same time) and the toilet cistem has stopped filling up. The water supply for all three comes from Harcopak water tanks. I've been able to check the cold tank and it is full.

Even if I can't fix the problem myself, I would find it really helpful to know what could be the cause of the waterflow drying up. Thanks in advance PG

 

[swbjackson]

Most likely cause is an airlock. If a bit of muck gets into the float operated valve and slows it down to a trickle it's possible to empty the cistern and when it refills the pipework can airlock. A wet vac on the taps generally sorts out the airlock but you need to find out why the cistern ran dry to stop it happening again.

 

[PlumsteadGirl]

Hi Mike, I've tried using a wet vac on taps, it sucked out the remaining water in the pipework, but the water has not started to flow. I kept the vac running for a few minutes. Is there anything else you can suggest?

Thanks PG

 

[PlumsteadGirl]

Hi

In my original post I said the water tank was full. I was mistaken, the Harcopak cold water tank is split into sections, only the small section is full. If I hold the ballcock in the small section down, the larger section starts to fill up with water, unfortunately this pushes the water above the level of the overflow pipe in the small tank.

Is my next step to replace the ballcock or is there a way I can adjust it? If so, any suggestion how I do this blind? The top of the tank is only 8 inches from the ceiling and there is no room to get my head in the cupboard to see what I am doing. From touch it feels like the ballcock arm and what feels like a split pin are crusted up with limescale.

Whoever install the system did not think about mainenance/repairs!

All suggestions welcome

Thanks PG

 

[Space cat]

It sounds like the ball arm in the large tank is stuck so that the ball did not go down with the water level. Can you confirm this? Is the ball high and dry?

 

[PlumsteadGirl]

The ballcock in the large tank has not stuck is just hanging there. PG

 

[PlumsteadGirl]

The ballcock in the large tank has not stuck is just hanging there. PG

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

It sounds from your description that if the ballcock in the large tank is hanging then that tank is empty. Water supply is ok to the other ballcock so problem seems to lie with ballcock in larger tank. Possibly bunged up with muck, or completely scaled up/corroded. You can either dismantle and clean (if possible) or it would be probably better to replace it entirely.

If you plan to DIY this then purchase a spare fibre washer or 2. This provides the seal on the tap connector coupling the supply pipe to the ballcok. They do perish and the existing washer is unlikely to seal again if disturbed.

 

[PlumsteadGirl]

Thanks for your advice Hugh. In the past I successfully replace the ball valve in my toilet, so I assume replacing the one in the large water tank will be similar type job.

When looking at the website of a well known DIY store, I can see there are two types of ball valve, high pressure and low pressure. How do I determine which one I need?

Thanks PG

 

[xr4x4]

if the ballcok is fed from the mains cold supply, which im sure it is.. you need a high pressure one.

 

[PlumsteadGirl]

Thanks Paul, Yes the tank is fed from the mains so I'll purchase the high pressure valve.

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

You'll want something akin to this (if not already purchased!).... http://www.screwfix.com/p/pegler-prestex-float-valve-part-2/27627# Usually worth fitting a new float at the same time IMHO.

High pressure valves are used on mains supplies, low pressure where the valve is supplied from a tank in the loft. Some of the plastic versions found in toilet cisterns are supplied with the low pressure injector fitted to the float arm. Depending on the nature of the supply the installer fitted the appropriate injector.

 

[Space cat]

Do you have any way of turning off the water supply to the tank except at the main stopcock? If you don't, why not take the opportunity to fit a stop valve now. You'll get your water back to the rest of the house and you can then take your time over the ball valve.