Have your taps have stopped working? In this blog, part of our series looking at common issues, we take a look at things to check before you need to pick up the phone to call a plumber.
The first step is to diagnose the problem and discover if the fault lies with your internal plumbing supply or if there are external factors that are causing the issue.
Is it just one tap that isn’t running, or is the whole of your house without water? Test different taps to see how widespread the problem is. A good way to establish if the issue lies with your internal plumbing or with the external water supply is to run your cold kitchen tap as this is where the water supply normally enters your home.
If you find that none of the taps are working in your home, then the first thing to check is your stopcock/valve to make sure it is open. If it is closed, turn it to ensure it is fully open. The stop valve is often located under the kitchen sink, in the garage or under the stairs. It is normally wherever the water supply enters your home. If you are not sure where it is, it is important to find out as you may need to access it in an emergency to turn off the water.
If your stop valve is open, and you have no water supply at your home, before calling out a professional to visit your home it is worth checking with neighbours to see if they are also experiencing problems with their water supply. If this is the case, the cause of the problem is likely to be outside of your home and you should call your water company to report the problem.
If your stopcock is open and the neighbours have water, then take a look at your cold water cistern. You need to check to see if the ball valve is stuck, this may cause the cistern to empty. If it is stuck then you need to move the float arm sharply to dislodge the valve. The cold water cistern should then fill up again and the taps will run.
Could your pipes have frozen? Unlagged pipes in lofts and basements can freeze, and even mains coming into the home in extreme conditions. Ensure you have insulated your pipes.
If the downstairs taps are working but the upstairs taps have stopped or the water pressure is right down then their might be an air lock in your pipes. At this point we recommend calling a plumber out.
At Carshalton Boilers, we specialise in plumbing, pipes and taps! so if you cant resolve the issue, call us today. A friendly, family run business, we cover South London, Surrey and surrounding areas. Call us on 020 8395 8060 or visit http://www.carshalton-boilers.co.uk/
