Following on from this thread…
When the washing machine is on all other taps, including shower lose all pressure and become cold only, why is this?
I have tried googling it but all I can find is issues with peoples actual washing machines and not the rest of the system.
A bit of additional info, one of the taps to the washing machine has a slight leak and I think the whole water system is very old.
Thanks in advance!
You need to be more specific. Do you mean when the washing machine is on, or, when the washing machine is filling up in preparation for a wash?
If it's the latter, that's perfectly normal. You have a hot water system like mine - can only take so many litres through the pipes at any one time. Just wait for the washing machine to finish filling (usually between 5-10 minutes, depending on the size of the wash), then you can use your hot water again.
One way you can check if your hot water is being used (you say you have an older system, probably an electric tank) is stand near it when the washing machine is on, and compare the noise to when all the taps are off. You will hear the difference. YOu will know the washing machine has finished filling when the noise subsides.
If it happens the entire time the machine is on, even after filling, (which I think is unlikely), then you have a problem and I have no idea what that is.