We live in an old house (150 years old) that was fully renovated a year ago. The tap in the kitchen sink has appeared to have air in it on & off for about 6 months, has sometimes stopped cold water running but has always righted itself in a few hours. However, it happened again yesterday, came back on a while later, but now we have had no cold water in the bathroom & the toilet won't flush since last night. I really can't afford a plumber at the minute so if anyone could help I'd really appreciate it!

Tell us Anne H... are you on city/town water or on well/pump water?

DO you have hot water at bathroom? Just missing cold water at toilet tank and bath sink? Get back to us... Mark

Yeah, I have hot water in the bath & sink. Have tried running all the taps as suggested in other queries but no joy. Am on a mains water supply by the way.
Thanks!

Hi Anne... OK... tell me if this bathroom has shutoffs that isolate it from the rest of the house.. and how many bathrooms in house. I will wait for the answer.

The bathroom runs off the same water pipe as the bathroom which has water. Only the 1 bathroom in the house.
Thanks Mark!

Sorry Anne.

Hmmm... thinking something has clogged the cold water line. Tell me is the water tube going into toilet flexible... how about water lines from pipes to faucet underneath vanity... are they flexible?

None of the pipes are flexible...

Yes ,
I think so

OK... let's start here. Shut water at shutoff to toilet (turn valve clockwise). Then see my picture for the rest I present here.. ok?

Being real careful where you put your hands in tank (not to break anything) grab the VALVE BODY in 1 hand and the CAP in the other. Then push down on that CAP and rotate it so that the top (with arm) comes off the valve body (rotate counterclockwise and set to the side).

Once you get CAP off, then reach in and remove the large black washer you see. Now, with a cloth over the top of capless valve, pulse the water shutoff under toilet to on and see if you have water flow. If you do then may just need to clean the washer and replace it and then push down on CAP and twist the cap back into place. Then turn water on.. see if that fixed... If it did.. we will work on sink next.

If no water when you pulse shutoff... let me know.

This is pretty quick job... no tools required! TRY it and let me know.. will check back in awhile.. ;)

I added the pic. Again.

Hi Mark, the system looks much simpler than the one in your diagram & there's no cap that can be removed...

Hmmm.. OK. More questions again Anne... is there cold water to shower?

Is the sink faucet one or two handles? What name is on your toilet.. Back to you.

Hi Mark, the system looks much simpler than the one in your diagram & theres no cap that can be removed...
Does it look like this? Regards, tom

It looks more like the one here

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikibooks/en/thumb/e/e5/Toilet-cistern-01.png/300px-Toilet-cistern-01.png

You are getting the hang of this I see.. ;) BUT you forgot to answer my other questions at post #11..

AND are you sure part looks more like yours then Speedball's picture... we can help with speedball's type of fill valve... but your pic. Is not clear enough about individual parts that I can advise... let me know... waiting for response... I swear!

There is water coming into the shoer, there are 2 faucets in the sink & it's a shires toilet

Hi Anne.. so this is isolated to sink and toilet.. got it. AND I am sorry to ask you again... BUT I REALLY need to be clear on this... is your fill valve more like speedball's picture (not the guts, the fill valve) or your picture of fill valve? I am right here.. so repost and we will get you started

It is very similar to the picture I posted down to the blue non removeable cap covering the piston and syphon. There is little else other than the inlet valve screws out of the inlet tube

OK... start by shutting water off to toilet. Then, remove the inlet valve screws... if I get this right. The arm and ball should come off with the screws and cover. There should be a washer under there somewhere.. then purge water line (cover with rag over inlet valve) clear, clean the washer and replace all parts in reverse.

When you pulse the water, can also use an inverted cup and see if you can turn on shutoff enough to confirm good water pressure.

The blue valve in your picture is nothing to do with this issue.. just so you are clear... great pic. Though! I am sure to add it to my collection ;)

That should clear the toilet. Let me know as you go.

ANY chance you have a name on the faucet... would be nice if I had an exploded parts view for you to look at... cause that is where you are off to next if this works! Get back to me

It looks like we're going to have to call a plumber, a washer broke in the cistern when we were trying to isolate the cold water shut off.
Thanks for your help anyway, we just don't have enough understanding of it all to carry out your instructions!
Anne

Anne.. I am so sorry to hear that. We were getting so close! Please pop back if you need help with anything.. good folks here, glad to help when they can. Mark