Bath tap turns on sink tap.
#1
09-01-16, 09:32 AM
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Bath tap turns on sink tap.
A neighbour asked me to look at her bath-tap telling me some garbled story of one tap turning on another and what was obviously a water-hammer problem. However, just as she said, turning on the bath cold-tap set off a water-hammer and also started the sink cold-tap running. The sink-tap continues to run for as long as the bath-tap is turned on. The water-hammer stops when the bath-tap is about half flow but the sink tap continues to run. I should add that the sink tap is a quarter-turn tap and the bath-tap is a screw action. I just cannot think what can be causing this and would appreciate any advice.
#2
09-01-16, 09:55 AM
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Welcome to the forums from the UK.
It sounds like the water pressure is too high in the house. If a pressure reducing valve is used on the main water service then it may need to be replaced.
It sounds like the water pressure is too high in the house. If a pressure reducing valve is used on the main water service then it may need to be replaced.
#3
09-01-16, 01:05 PM
I agree, water pressure is the first thing to check.
The bathroom tap turning on is probably a loose or worn washer. Even with too-high pressure, the tap probably shouldn't be turning itself on.
Or ghosts... though I'm not sure this is the right forum for that.
Welcome to the forums!
The bathroom tap turning on is probably a loose or worn washer. Even with too-high pressure, the tap probably shouldn't be turning itself on.
Or ghosts... though I'm not sure this is the right forum for that.
Welcome to the forums!
#4
09-01-16, 04:54 PM
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To me this sounds almost impossible, but restricted flow through a valve can cause severe shaking of pipes sometimes.
After checking the water pressure, check or replace all components of the shower cold valve.
Change the angle stop valve under the vanity, the 1/4 turn stops are almost just as prone to fail as a gate valve.
The 1/4 turn valves are excellent in larger sizes like a water line or a water heater, but the standard angle stops often get stuck from mineral deposits and sometimes can't even be turned off.
After checking the water pressure, check or replace all components of the shower cold valve.
Change the angle stop valve under the vanity, the 1/4 turn stops are almost just as prone to fail as a gate valve.
The 1/4 turn valves are excellent in larger sizes like a water line or a water heater, but the standard angle stops often get stuck from mineral deposits and sometimes can't even be turned off.
#5
09-04-16, 10:42 AM
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PJmax...Zorfdt...Handyone...Thank you for your replies, I should add to my post that I have tried throttling in the cold water mains isolating valve in stages but to no avail. The bath-tap has had a new washer fitted, (my original 'cure'), the sink-tap being only about a year old.The cold feed pipes are quite securely bracketed to the wall. Also the incoming main supply 'T's off after the isolating v/v, one side to the two taps in question and the other leg to supply the rest of the house.It is a fairly old house, (200 years ? or so), but the plumbing is much more recent, this century probably. Zorfdt, your last suggestion is beginning to look to have merit.
#6
09-04-16, 12:16 PM
Half-closing your main valve won't help if it's a pressure issue. I would get a pressure gauge and connect it to an outdoor faucet. It should be 80psi or less. Anything more than that will cause issues across your plumbing system.
