What can I do to get my hot water tap in the kitchen running better. It has suddenly slowed down. All other hot water taps in the bungalow are working fine.

M Garner, May 2009

Hi everyone out there in plumber land. I have an issue with my mixer tap in the kitchen. We have a backboiler system and a storage tank at first floor level. The hot tap in the kitchen has slowed considerably in the last few months. We have tried the thumb on tap approach and nothing. PLEASE HELP IF YOU CAN.

Mr Harcher, September 2017

Fantastic. I was going to take the pipe to bits under the sink but then decided to check on the internet to see if anyone had any advice. Did exactly what was suggested and initially we had some very rusty water coming from the hot tap but that then cleared and the water pressure was greatly improved. A good job done on a Bank Holiday Monday. Thank you!

Doug, May 2017

Followed the procedure described bellow, posted in 2009, and 6 years later solved my problem in seconds! Had some work done on the pipes and since then was left with a very slow running hot tap (mixer tap). When I first turned the hot water on after the procedure bits of metal came out of the tap and the pressure was back to normal. Very thankful.

Ruby, February 2015

I followed advice to place palm over mixer tap, turn hot tap on then cold tap. This resulted in the hot water running faster but only for a short time. What can I do to permanently resolve the problem? Thanks.

Gus, February 2012

Superb answer. I just tried it! My hot water runs faster than ever. You saved me £100.00 stranger, many thanks!

Imran, May 2010

If you have a mixer tap you need to put the palm of your hand over the end of the tap to stop water coming out.
Turn on the hot water tap fully. You will feel no pressure on your hand. keeping your hand firmly clamped around the end of the tap, slowly turn on the cold water.
This will start to force water back up the hot tap pipes to expel any air and fill the pipes with water.
Do this for about 10 seconds.
Turn off the cold water first, then the hot. You can now release the end of the tap. do this quickly as there may be enough pressure to get you wet, not much.
You should now be able to turn on the hot water with pressure back to normal. The water will run cold at first so let it run until hot at tap. Hope this helps.
If you have 2 seperate taps you will need to connect them with a short piece of hose pipe, then do the same procedure.

Garyfshutt, May 2009