[jpmarks]

There is no cold water coming out of any of my taps including my shower. The hot water works fine and comes straight of the boiler. The biler takes it water supply from the same supply as the cold water.

The problem happened a few days ago but I twisted and untwisted a few valves and the water gradually came back on and for a little bit it came out blue. I live in a tenement(set of flats) and the neighbors are reporting no problems though it is below freezing outside.

Does anybody know what problem might be stopping my cold water and how I could get it working again. I

[massplumber2008]

Hi JP:

It is either a frozen pipe OR it is going to be a VALVE (shutoff ) AFTER the cold water connects to the boiler.

To check this you would need to shut off the cold water main supply and you will need to find the first shutoff after the boiler connection(s)... then you will need to take the valve apart and see exactly what is blocking or what part has broken off that is causing the issue. If not at the first stop, then you may need to check the next stop.

If there are no shutoffs after the boiler connection(s) then I begin to wonder if you have single or double handle sink faucets? If you have double handle faucets, it could be that the cold water shutoffs are clogged under each sink... check that as last resort.

Finally, chase the cold water pipe out after the boiler connection(s) and see if you can find an area that appears frozen. If so, open the cold water faucets ONLY upstairs and then take a hair dryer and start to heat the pipe where it starts to feel real cold. Copper pipe is a great conductor of heat and it should conduct the heat along the pipe and eventually thaw the pipe(s). Move to different spots as you go.

You must have open faucets to unthaw a faucet water line.. so be sure to do that.. OK?

Back to you...

MARK

[jpmarks]

Hi,
Thanks for the quick response, I had no luck finding that cut off valve but a lot of the piping is under carpet and floorboards. Frozen sounds likely as the room where the pipes go through is very cold and not used currently. The last time it blocked it down sounds like something coming through the pipe when it unblocked. All I need now is a hair dryer!

My taps are both taps that have just one bit where the water comes out but one has two handles and the other has one handle.

I'll trying thawing the pipes with the taps open in hope it works. They did block over night so it seems likely they are frozen.

Thanks
Jonathon

[jpmarks]

Thank you, hair dryer seem to do the trick I now have cld water again though it did come up blue at first again.

[massplumber2008]

Hi JPMarks...

Glad you're up and running again... ;) The blue color isn't that odd considering that there is always some sediment on the bottom of water pipes. When the pipe froze, the water must have picked up some of the sediment and it showed up at the faucet(s). Run the water for awhile... it will clear!

Good luck!

MARK