Low hot water pressure - Page 2 - DIY Chatroom

MAS2006 · 05-02-2006, 12:22 AM

You can check pressure/flow at washing machine. Turn Hot/cold off, cycle washer, start fill should relieve pressure. Remove hot from back of machine, (carefully most are plastic parts) inspect if screen clogged most washers have them. Put hose in washer tub, hold while you turn just hot back on, see how your pressure and flow are. If low, your back to heater outlet. Most well systems have lime/calcium build up. Older city water can have rust problems. On electrics build up coats heating elements and can become quite hard and thick. Chalk or rust color is the usual, is your green copper statue patina or alge green? Flushing a water heater gets neglected until it complains.

rdooba · 07-06-2009, 12:56 PM

Redline- I have the identical problem described in this post with low hot water pressure (Low hot water pressure) and I did the same things that you did (drained the hotwater heater several times, changed the valve on the hot water spigot in the bathroom- none worked and the low hotwater pressure is all over the house). Did you ever get it resolved?? What ended up being the cause of the problem and the eventual fix? I REALLY appreciate your sharing your experience, many thanks!

kenmac · 07-06-2009, 01:12 PM

Look for rstriction on the cold water inlet to the w.h. If you have low hot water perssure throughout the house ( if you dont have galvvanized pipes) Low cold water inlet to the w .h would result is low hot water .. Mabe scale build up as the hot water leaves the tank

rdooba · 07-06-2009, 01:47 PM

Thanks for the tips. The problem, in my mind, cannot possibly reside in the cold water feed because the cold water pressure in the hous is 2 to 3 times as strong as the hot water (ie: normal/no noticable difference). I've done many of the things listed in this post and none have worked. I beleive that the issue may reside either in the hotwater heater itself (which i did drain to no avail) or in the hot water pipe exiting the heater. Either way, the issue is the same as Redline's original post so I am wondering what he eventually did to fix it.

It not, do you have any other suggestions for me?

Thanks!

kenmac · 07-06-2009, 02:13 PM

cold water feeds the w.h . Hot water is forced out the top & out of the w.h by the cold water entering at the top of the w.h.Could possibly be even the dip tube in the cold water inlet of the w.h..

kyball · 09-29-2009, 11:33 PM

I tried the flush method on my water heater and it didnt fix the problem. However when I started to fill it back up I noticed that the water going into the heater seemed to be not flowing properly. I figured that there must be some sort of blockage before or at the cold water entrance to the heater. I took a wrench and hit the water pipes in the general area where the cold water entered the tank and wala! it dislodged whatever was keeping the water from flowing properly. Problem fixed!

Viper16 · 09-30-2009, 12:18 PM

Well since it sounds like it is a newer water heater...i don't think ti could be it.

What is the water like? is it hard water? do the faucets have any sort of corrosion or buildup on them? I wonder if there could be some restriction due to hard water...like a buildup. Could be a pain in the butt to do, but get a pipe nipple and connect the supply line to the line to the fixtures and see if it does it then. If so it is the water heater...if not, then something is plugged up.

Take a look at the ball valve...can you semi close it and look in there...see if the ball has become cracked...if it is a plastic ball.

biggles · 10-03-2009, 02:19 PM

your anrod is restricted that the hot water exits up and into the copper line to start the run of hot water pipes..OR the copper fitting closest to the HOT OUT on the top of the heater is closing down like an artery with a cloresterol build up in a blood vessel

...if it slowly has becoome less and less over the year it is that mineral build up on the copper fitting that is threaded into the steel female hot tank out

lakhan124 · 11-07-2009, 07:38 PM

I had the same problem so I did two things - drain the hot water from the drain water but I think it didn't work. Then I lifter the pressure relief value from the top of the water and I could see hot water coming out at very high pressure. That assured me there is no problem with my heater. I did it couple of times and it worked.

spark plug · 11-07-2009, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crebive

I last flushed my water heater when I noticed the problem. The tub is the same as all the other faucets when on, it is low, when two faucets are on, very low.

I will look at the valve, hopefully that will be the only problem. How long do water heaters last? I hear they have a "mind" of their own and can last 2 years or 20.

D

I haven't heard of either. (2 or 20). On average, they last 10-12 years. I had one last 8 years. The next one lasted EXACTLY Ten Years. Just as long as the (pro-rated) Warranty! (No matter what)

Don't Drink and Drive, Ever!!!