Problem with bath tap ( or pipe )

[Andy C]

Hi Guys

I am experiencing a strange problem with my bath mixer tap. When I run the hot water the pressure seems to suddenly drop off and it slows down to a trickle. I then have to twist the tap more till I get more water coming out of the tap. This even results often in the water gushing out all of a sudden due to the earlier pressure drop off being somehow released. I am unable to figure out if this is a pipe problem or the tap problem or maybe even the combi boiler ? Any thoughts appreciated. I haev tried my best to describe this problem. Cheers guys

[Guy King]

The message from "Andy C" contains these words:

Why don't you turn the tap on all the way to start with?

If it's a tap with rubber washers, what happens is this; the washer is compressed, particularly if you've had to screw it down really tight to stop a drip. Then, when you open the tap a bit, water flows readily to start with, but then as the rubber washer returns to its uncompressed shape the flow slows down. This is more noticable with the hot tap as the hot water softens the washer, making it easier to compress to start with and quicker to return.

The cure is simple, turn the tap on all the way from the outset. If you've a combi boiler and the flow is too great like this, use the controls on the boiler to regulate the maximum flow instead.