DIY

1614 readers

1 users here now

For DIY - this is also a placeholder.

founded 3 years ago

MODERATORS

Hareuhal@lemmy.world

What's wrong with my tap? (europe.pub)

submitted 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) by pottery@feddit.uk to c/diy@lemmy.world

7 comments fedilink hide all child comments

The water from my bathroom tap comes out at an angle (as though I had my finger over the stream). The direction of the water changes as I turn the tap. It also makes squealing noises and sometimes sputters, making loud knocking noises when it does.

It behaves better if I run the shower at the same time. If I tighten it shut really hard, sometimes it will return to normal for a bit. I mostly stopped doing that though cos the seal broke and had to be replaced.

What's wrong with it and how hard is it to fix? I have zero plumbing experience.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[–] pottery@feddit.uk 3 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

I believe it's the only one. It's only recently started to sputter. It's like the water supply gets blocked momentarily.

Do all taps have aerators? The water on this tap - when it's behaving itself comes out in a solid stream, not like a shower.

Ah, maybe it's a laminar aerator. I can't see any such thing on the tap. I'll try to get a photo of the tap.

[–] schwim@piefed.zip 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

A photo or video would be very helpful, vid moreso since we could hear the whistle and sputter.

The only faucets I've ever seen without an aerator are the basin farm-style spigots that have become a recent fad. All others should have one equipped when sold. That's an important distinction to make because many people remove them without replacing them, usually due to poor pressure or not wanting to be bothered to go buy another one. Your faucet could be missing one for that reason.

[–] pottery@feddit.uk 3 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

Added a picture of the tap. May get round to a video (can't do it now)

The bathroom tap downstairs clearly has an aerator, but it's a completely different model.

[–] schwim@piefed.zip 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

That style(Victorian) does not have an aerator in the spigot itself, so we can rule that part out.

You can, however still have a screen in the connectors of the supply lines.

Does it only happen on your cold tap on that sink or does the hot behave oddly as well?

That tap is very easy to rebuild. My guess at this point is that you have some corrosion or deposits in the faucet causing the behavior. If snaking something like a zip tie or wire into the mouth doesn't result in removal of anything, I'd consider pulling the tap apart(after shutting the water off and releasing the pressure). There's really only a couple rubber seals in it that are the consumables, the rest should be able to be reused after cleaning.

[–] pottery@feddit.uk 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Only on the cold, though I almost never use the hot.

I'll look at finding a wire or sth. I reckon I can take it from here. Thanks for your help.