[Help] Plumbing advice

[Perkino]

Whenever we use the washing machine, shower or even flush the toilet our bathroom tap has started to make an awful sound. We have lived here for 4 years

Any suggestions of how I can fix it

 

[bhawoddy]

Yep, buy a new house.

 

[Foul Play Rocks]

Change the washer in the tap or change the tap.

 

[BN9 BHA]

Whenever we use the washing machine, shower or even flush the toilet our bathroom tap has started to make an awful sound. We have lived here for 4 years

Any suggestions of how I can fix it

What sort of sound?
Do you have a mixer tap or single taps, is the tap on the bath or basin?
Do you have a cold water storage tank in your loft?

 

[Perkino]

What sort of sound?
Do you have a mixer tap or single taps, is the tap on the bath or basin?
Do you have a cold water storage tank in your loft?

The wife described it like a donkey
Mixer tap on the basin, noise stops once cold tap is turned on
No storage tanks in the house, we have a combi boiler

 

[swindonseagull]

Turn it OFF and ON?

 

[BN9 BHA]

The wife described it like a donkey
Mixer tap on the basin, noise stops once cold tap is turned on
No storage tanks in the house, we have a combi boiler

The only thing I can think of is the basin mixer tap has ceramic disc valves fitted ( under the tap head ) they are used on most modern taps instead of normal tap washers.
It may be worth replacing them or if the mixer tap is old, replace that.

One thing to try, on the pipes to the basin mixer are there isolation valves installed?
If so turn them off and run the shower or flush the toilet and see if the noise definitely stops. This is just to confirm there is a problem with the tap.

 

[Jack Straw]

Could be an air lock. Turn all of your taps on and let them run for a few minutes. Then turn them off. I occasionally get this problem and this fixes it, until the next time!

 

[Perkino]

The only thing I can think of is the basin mixer tap has ceramic disc valves fitted ( under the tap head ) they are used on most modern taps instead of normal tap washers.
It may be worth replacing them or if the mixer tap is old, replace that.

One thing to try, on the pipes to the basin mixer are there isolation valves installed?
If so turn them off and run the shower or flush the toilet and see if the noise definitely stops. This is just to confirm there is a problem with the tap.

I turned it off on the isolator valve and when flushing the toilet no noise. I guess I need to replace the valve, thanks for your help

 

[BN9 BHA]

I turned it off on the isolator valve and when flushing the toilet no noise. I guess I need to replace the valve, thanks for your help

You're welcome.
The ceramic disc valves fitted in the taps are not standard, helps if you know the manufacturer of the tap.
If the mixer tap has two tap heads, rather than one lever. Take one of the heads to a plumbing shop and see if they can match the head up with a pair of valves.

 

[Arkwright]

You're welcome.
The ceramic disc valves fitted in the taps are not standard, helps if you know the manufacturer of the tap.
If the mixer tap has two tap heads, rather than one lever. Take one of the heads to a plumbing shop and see if they can match the head up with a pair of valves.

This. I work for a plumbers merchant and the disc cartridges aren't universal. Make sure you take the handle / lever and the cartridge to get the correct match.
If the tap has a makers name or brand that might help.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

It will also cost about £20 for a new ceramic valve, whereas a new washer for an old tap would be about 10p.

Complete rip off.

 

[BN9 BHA]

It will also cost about £20 for a new ceramic valve, whereas a new washer for an old tap would be about 10p.

Complete rip off.

Some are expensive but Screwfix now sell a pair of valves for less than six pound, they do three different types.

 

[227 BHA]

Could be an air lock. Turn all of your taps on and let them run for a few minutes. Then turn them off. I occasionally get this problem and this fixes it, until the next time!

Wouldn’t have been an air lock because as the OP says he has a combi boiler so all is under mains pressure

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

The wife described it like a donkey