Toilets Not Filling?

Kintarō Hattori

Hey Chaps,

We moved into a new house yesterday. The water had been turned off as it was unoccupied but the chap servicing the gas boiler turned it back on. So we have hot water but the toilet upstairs and the one downstairs have no cold water in the taps and the toiets themselves aren't filling up.

I presume there must be some sort of issue with the tank in the attic? We had a look up there but didn't see any sort of obvious tap or valve.


Does anyone have any ideas? They'd be much appreciated.

C Eng

Is there water in the attic tank?

Kintarō Hattori

C Eng wrote: »

Is there water in the attic tank?

Heh I haven't managed to get up and have a look as I've no ladder and the attic access is offset so I can't stand on the bannister to get into it.

What would the scenario be if A there is or B there isn't?


I guess I'll have to get myself a step ladder tomorrow!


EDIT - Against my advice my other half knocked into the neighbour next door and between the two of them started turning the knobs in the photo without actually knowing what they were doing. I know the right hand knob is something to do with gas. What are the other two likely for?

They turned them and I have no idea what position they should be at. Does anyone have any advice?

Kintarō Hattori

As requested I've attached a picture of the pipes and boiler.

slavetothegrind

all three should be open but i think getting a plumber in for a visit will benefit you greatly not least cos the unsupported red vessell there is a disaster waiting to happen
sorry was in pub earlier.....:o

Kintarō Hattori

slavetothegrind wrote: »

all three should be open but i think getting a plumber in for a visit will benefit you greatly not least cos the unsupported red vessell there is a disaster waiting to happen
sorry was in pub earlier.....:o

How do you know if they are open? Should they be rotated clockwise or anti-clockwise?


Plumber calling early tomorrow morning!

C Eng

Turn Anti clockwise to open

will1977

Same thing happened us in Jan. Had hot water but no cold and the toilets wouldnt fill. It sounds like an air lock. If you have a bath, turn both taps on and block the water coming out as best you can. This started the waqter filling the toilets and the sink in the bathroom.

Joey the lips

If hot water is coming from yor taps and not from the cold then it is an air lock. The irony is the air lock usually occurs in the hot.

Those 3 wheels should be turned anti clockwise for on. When you get it on all the way turn it back a little. It unseats the valve and stops it sticking.

Now to clear the air lock.

The kitchen tap should be free of air locks. If you have a down stairs toilet it would be interesting to know the status on that as if its working it could be a pressure problem.

To clear air locks I use to simple open all the cold for an hour our so. It works.

If not then you will need to connect a hose to the cold in the kitchen and to the cold in the bathroom. Then force water back up the spout. Make sure both colds are open. The other taps will have to be turned off and the attic tank will have to be watched to make sure it does not overfill so you willl need 2 people.

To be honest the pluimber that turned on your heating should have been concerned that no water is going to the cold because its the cold that fills the boiler.

Try leaving tha taps open. Dont forget to close the ones you are not using if you decide to go with back pressure.

Kintarō Hattori

Thanks for that very detailed reply Joey. You were absolutely right- it was an air lock. The plumber explained this to me and that in the event of a water shortage it was possible that it could happen again. He showed me how to solve the problem should it arise again.

When he came the first time to service the boiler I stupidly never thought to mention to him about the lack of water in the toilets. I was just so focused on the heating and trying to follow all the instructions he gave me.