No cold water upstairs..

Drumpot

Our water was shutoff for a few hours yesterday. Downstairs it seems fine but upstairs the cold water in taps and toilets is not workings.

I actually had a bath around the time the water went off so I'm not sure if I drained all the cold water upstairs.. The upstairs power shower seems to work. I read about air pockets but not quite sure how to fix it. I tried putting palm over cold tap, opening that two and then open the hot tap but that didn't do anything (assuming of course I tried it right and for correct amount of time).

NickNickleby

THis worked for me...

1. turn on cold tap in bathroom - fully open.
2. run hose from garden tap through bathroom window.
3. somehow, connect end of hose to bathroom tap (I just held it against the bottom of the tap and cupped my hand tightly round it).
4. get helper to open garden tap - slowly.
5. listen for gurgling sound in pipes - this is the air being forced backward through the cold pipe and into the tank in the attic.
6 after no more than 30 seconds*, turn off garden tap.
7. remove hand and hose from bathroom tap and hope that water now flows.

if unsuccessful, repeat for longer period, bearing in mind the note below.

*the risk here is that mains water from garden tap could go into the attic tank faster than normal and could overflow. Even though there's an overflow pipe up there. Hence the thing about 'no more than 30 seconds'.

As stated many times , I am NOT a qualified tradesman, just a lucky DIY'er.

Nick

Drumpot

Thanks for the advice. .

I was trying to figure out how to make that work cause it wouldn't be easy for me to get two hose ends connecting and read another suggestion on using a vaccum.

In short, I turned on the cold tap, put the vacuum on and tried to suck the air out. It worked! But thanks a mill for the directions, I would of gotten a plumber just to get this done if you hadn't given me some food for thought .

Wearb

I hope it was a wet vac :eek:

Drumpot

Wearb wrote: »

I hope it was a wet vac :eek:

It wasn't but I guess I got lucky and turned it off at the right time. Soon as I heard some gurgling! I'd rather be lucky then good

Wearb

Drumpot wrote: »

It wasn't but I guess I got lucky and turned it off at the right time. Soon as I heard some gurgling! I'd rather be lucky then good

Foolish. You were lucky. Don't anyone else try this unless you have a wet vac.

NickNickleby

Drumpot wrote: »

It wasn't but I guess I got lucky and turned it off at the right time. Soon as I heard some gurgling! I'd rather be lucky then good

Hahaha

Often wondered what I'd do if the reverse hose trick didn't work. I've an idea that it should be possible to design some sort of accordian like device, to act like a suction pump. Now, I have to admit to being slightly unorthodox, but even I wouldn't use the vacuum cleaner. Congrats on getting away with it!

AND, you've given me an idea!

Cheers
Nick

dan1895

I've a problem similar to the op's but don't really want to solve it with a vacuum cleaner. I currently don't have a garden hose but if needs be can get one later in the week. I've checked the tank in the attic and it seems ok. The hot taps, electric shower and toilet are all working fine. Is there anything I could do now that may work before i go out and get a hose that I otherwise don't need.

Any suggestions appreciated.