Anyone know anything about plumbing?

[DublinShaver]

Well after not having proper water for three months I've finally decided I need to actually fix this issue.......and my girlfriend thinks the same! To be honest, I think I'm going to need to get a plumber out but I thought I'd ask here first, see if I can save a few bucks! As will become apparent in my explanation of the problem, I don't know much about plumbing and so my skills are pretty limited! If anyone has any simple ideas though they'll be most welcome!

So here's the problem:
About three months ago the cold water tap in my kitchen started leaking so I decided to replace the washer. I forget what the issue was now but there was some issue with changing it which I decided to solve by taking apart the hot water tap next to it to compare the two.
Since I turned the hot water off for about an hour that day the hot water has not worked properly at all. There is no pressure in the taps and they all constantly sputter. They also fluctuate from hot to cold, even a shower is absolutely unbearable now. I tried reading online and found that this could be due to an airlock, so I tried turning the water off again, running it until it ran out altogether and then turning each tap on from the lowest to the highest (this was just a solution I read online to other people who seemed to be having the same problem). This seemed to solve the problem for about three days but then it came back worse than ever.
I don't really know how to describe the set-up I have (I'll try and attach a picture). There's a hot water cylinder in my airing cupboard and at the base of it is a water pump and this has red valve things on connected to pipes going to the cylinder which I currently have all open (I've messed about with these so I'm not sure if they were all open before). I'm thinking either I did something that broke the pump or maybe there's still an airlock (would it really last three months?) Anybody have any ideas for things I can try before I get a plumber out?

Thanks!

 

[Predict]

Here's what I know about plumbing: water runs down hill, don't lick your fingers.

 

[Rudy Vey]

Get a licensed plumber.....costly, but worth it.

 

[Bobbers]

Plumbing can be a challenge sometimes. I have sold and repaired different plumbing items for years. First question where are you located? Do you have other photos that would show more? Is this city water or a well?

 

[njpaddy]

Your girlfriend has put up with this for 3 months? Wow, she's a keeper. My wife would have been on my case after 3 minutes. If I can't figure it out after an hour or two, I resign myself to getting screwed and just call a plumber. Expensive, but at least the one I use does a good job.

 

[Kentos]

Does the handle on the valve sit securely? Could the valve possibly be not fully open?

What is the pump for? When you say cylinder do you mean a heater?

 

[FunnyHoney]

Get a licensed plumber.....costly, but worth it

+1

I agree. If you don't know what you'll doing, it'll just get worse and probably have to get a plumber anyways.

 

[cb91710]

Does the handle on the valve sit securely? Could the valve possibly be not fully open?

What is the pump for? When you say cylinder do you mean a heater?

I'm thinking it could be a recirculation pump. They are common when the water heater is a long distance from the shower stall.
Pump is on a timer... some time before you get out of bed, the pump turns on and circulates water from the hot side either out the cold side, or less often, along a 3rd line that returns to the heater.

 

[Robert45]

My Uncle Jim, a plumber, used to say all one needed to really know to be a plumber is water goes down hill and sh.. floats! Which reminds me that my late Uncle Wade, an electrician, use to say all one needed to really know to be an electrician is don't ever touch the red wire.

Based on what I learned from Jim and Wade...I have found it cheaper and safer to call plumbers and electricians to take care of most problems.

 

[Kentos]

I'm thinking it could be a recirculation pump. They are common when the water heater is a long distance from the shower stall.
Pump is on a timer... some time before you get out of bed, the pump turns on and circulates water from the hot side either out the cold side, or less often, along a 3rd line that returns to the heater.

Ah, something I would never see here in the islands. If you shut them all down again and take it step by step you should be able to at least isolate your problem. If you rely on water pressure from the meter to supply the house the you should have pressure regardless, as long as all the valves are open.

Stewie JMallen is a plumbing contractor IIRC he may chime in later.

But a big plus 1 for a plumber if you go beyond a few rudimentary tasks,

 

[smalltank]

Do you have home owners insurance?..if not seriousely get it..$40 per incident..but if its the same incident within 90 days...its covered completely..

 

[DublinShaver]

Thanks for all the replies everyone! It's city water, and it's an apartment in Ireland. Well, more of a duplex really. That pump that says ZILMET on it? To be honest, I have no idea what it does. I just know that it's a pump of some kind........yeah I'm thinking I need to get a professional plumber in! The shower stall isn't that far from the heater really, maybe 25 feet or so...I'm not sure if that counts as far or not though.
As for homeowners insurance, we do have it but I'm not sure this would be covered, I'll need to have a look once I get home. The worst thing is, this is my girlfriends house so at my house my shower works perfectly, I just messed hers up!

 

[Slash McCoy]

As long as YOURS still works, I am somewhat confused as to exactly what the problem is?

 

[Wendy]

I have found that my local Home Depot employes a couple of master plumbers. Two licensed electricians, who knows what else. I bet if you go to a local store, poke around, they do not advertise but they do work for about 60-70% of regular prices. Then why are they working at Home Depot, one may ask, benefits and a massive amount of referrals. Maybe what they are doing is unethical but who am I to judge.

 

[APEXshooter]

From the picture the small black cylinder your referring to APPEARS to be an Amtrol tank. My dad is a master plumber I know that is what they are commonly called here in the states. Usually they are located on the main line for the whole house but the codes could be different where you live. It is actually a tank with an air bladder in the top that allows the water pressure to remain constant by allowing the air bladder to be compressed and expand depending on the water pressure in the city lines at that time. If the bladder becomes compromised or is over pressured or under pressured it can cause several issues including what you are experiencing here. Messing with it yourself is possible but can become fairly involved, better off to call a professional. Wish I could be of more help, and Good luck.