why does my tap water stop running after some time?

Question

Hi everyone
Well here is the thing,

whenever I turn the tap water on at a little water flow, the water flow degrades slowly by time, after about 1-2 minutes it is dripping and about another 1-2 minutes after it stops completely. (sometimes it takes even less than a minute)

This happens at the taps of both my baths (there are two baths) and at both cold and warm water.

WHY is this happening?


ps.Also I am at the first floor of the building, the taps are working great in other aspects, the cold water comes directly from the water network and the warm water comes from the "water warmer" tank. And there is not any other water flow in the house at the time this happens.

ps2. It is not annoying, neither a problem, there is no reason for me to change this but I am just curious WHY MECHANICALLY is it happening.

@alpha b
As far as I know there is no filter in the line (but I am not 100% sure as I rent the house). The common things at the cold and hot water are the supply line (prior to the water heater tank for the warm water) and the taps (which both 3 at my house do the same thing). The same happens at the kitchen as I see.

thanks for the answer : )

Finally is what Jeffery H K said, did asked some people and they told me that the HOT water is expanding the soft washer in the faucet and it closes the small gap.

Thanks anyone for the answers

Answer 1

Ok, the HOT water is expanding the soft washer in the older faucet, and it closes the small gap, if you only have it turned on a little. I dont see this happening in newer faucets with harder seals or cartiriges.
The cold one is a mystery. should not hapen there.

Answer 2

# Actually this should not happen, but as you are saying, I would like to give some clue:

1.Is there any filter in the line which may restrict the flow.
2.It seems that flow is comming very less and it is getting accumulated over a period of time . Due to which initially it is comming and stops within a short span of time.
3.Check the valves in the line if any.
4.Check the vent in the water sources .It should be opened, otherwise tank will come under vacuume.
5.Check for the air trapping.
6.Is there any thing common in cold and hot water line?If so check the common line.

I dont have sufficient information, but would like to suggest that you back-flush any of the incomming line or both the lines with pressuried water or air.

I have given the answer considering gravity flow for hot water and may be pressure flow for cold water.
But as you are saying "there must be some common problem"

Please give comments as I have given the causes as per my industrial experience.May be yours is new one!

Answer 3

air in your line maybe.