Upstairs Cold Water Pressure

[Old_Geezer]

Over the last few days I've been getting a problem with the upstairs, over the bath, mixer tap shower.

Normally I have both the hot and cold taps just shy of the mid position, but lately I've been having to turn the hot down and the cold right up. So dramatic is the difference that I've been mulling over calling the water board and asking if the pressure has been lowered in the area.

Well it was worse than ever this morning. Cold fully on, hot hardly on, hardly enough volume to call it a shower. Was it the mains pressure, or maybe the mixer tap has failed somehow ?

I've just done a small investigation. The kitchen cold tap seems ok, but there again, would I notice ? It is, what, 10 or 12 foot nearer the ground.

I turned on the bathroom basin cold tap and for a while it also seemed fine, but then, for no obvious reason, it suddenly reduced in flow too. I suspect this is probably the same thing that is happening at the bath.

I've not done anything that I can think would cause an upstairs problem recently.

Any thoughts on the possible issue, why it has gone wrong, and what can be done to fix it ? If it gets any worse I'll have to switch to having baths instead. And eventually soaking in the kitchen sink maybe.

TIA

[Old_Geezer]

Despair at getting a trades person in. Been all summer trying to get a builder to quote after looking at the jobs I want done. None do. No enthusiasm to bother again this year. And plumbers come and are so bad that after the last one I booked a BG boiler contract to avoid having to call another local plumber again. I don't know how anyone actually finds a decent trades person; there must be some out there somewhere.

I can block the shower (almost) by putting the mixer button down. I'm unsure what opening the taps would do as it hasn't done more than flow at a reduced rate so far.

But thanks for the suggestions. Much appreciated.

[alavahalf]

The last job I got called out to was because the customer had a dribble coming out of the basin tap and the bath tap.
The first thing you should do is check you have mains pressure in the kitchen, because this is fed from the mains. If you have then you know that your problem is internal and has previously been suggested .. it is a blockage in the tank or pipework leaving it.
You have already said you have a suspect lid on the tank.
Turn the mains off ..
Get a torch and have a look inside the tank in the loft ..
If it is manky .. most are I'm afraid .. you will need to drain it down and clean it out.
Remove you mixer above the bath and drape it down into the bath, remove the shower head to aid drainage..put the plug into the bath.
Turn the cold tap on and see what arrives in the bottom of the bath, you will be very surprised at how much rubbish comes out.
When the tank has drained down then you will need to remove any sediment that has gathered.
It is then a case of filling the tank and flushing it out until you clear.

Another cause of a slow water flow could be the ball valve having a blockage within it or the washer having perished.
Having found decomposed rats, pigeons and mice in tanks, it wont surprise me what you find up there.
A word of warning... it is always advisable to screw a plank across 2 joists so that you have a good platform to work on as most lofts are a dangerous and unfamiliar place to work.
...... set a spotlight up if you have one.

[Garaman]

Moving the mixer button shouldn’t allow the water from one pipe go back up the other, OG, which is what I was suggesting you try. It is something that you normally do to blow cold water back up the hot tank and clear any blockages or airlocks in the hot water system. It probably won’t be very effective as both pipes are on equal pressure in your case, but I thought it might be worth a try if it is easy to do.

Alavahalf seems to have the better solution though.

[Old_Geezer]

Just tapped away at the pipes coming down from the attic in the airing cupboard; didn't seem to achieve anything.


Ah understood; thanks Garaman.


Hi alavahalf. Have done some of that already but will try again.

Mains in kitchen sink seems to be fine as far as I can tell.

Have looked into the attic tank, seems clear water to me. (Didn't have a torch but the attic has lighting.)

It seems to fill ok but since when i checked it was almost full anyway it wasn't rushing in. But there again I'm more concerned that it isn't rushing out to the bathroom. As mentioned the restricted flow occurs both at the bath and basin, about 5 or 10 seconds after the flow starts.

I'll try the rest now, see how it goes. Cheers.

[alavahalf]

If the tanks seems to be clear I would still drain it down and get a hose and direct it into the outlet from the tank. This will force any debris

[alavahalf]

Whoops sorry .. I hate using a phone to give an answer..

This will force any debris down the pipe and into the bath for your inspection.

[Old_Geezer]

Draining now. I'll see how it goes.

[Old_Geezer]

Well just gone back to check the bath. Cold tap has just about finished it's draining (I'll go up to the attic and check the tank next) for a grand total of no sediment.

[Old_Geezer]

Oh dear; that's gone less well than hoped. I let the tank refill, and now there's nothing coming out of the taps upstairs. Well that's not 100% clear. The headless shower pipe drooped into the bath seems to pulse small amounts whilst one hears a general bubbling. Nothing from the taps though.

...

Anyway I've opted to run a hose from there downstairs mains cold tap to the bathroom basin cold tap, and force water back up until the overflow passed water. I've had a quick shower to see if all is well and it seems to be. I'll find out when I try gain tomorrow.