Hot water / water preassure dropoff

[Unregistered-rushforths]

I moved in to a townhouse 2.5 years ago and had very good water preassure all around. Recently however, the preassure for the hot water in the kitchen & the showers has dropped off dramatically. Any ideas what could cause this? (have not really noticed similar problems at other faucets though.)

[Jasper]

* Could be debris has stopped up the filters in the shower heads and kitchen faucet.
* Remove the filter screen in your kitchen faucet and see if it had debris. If so, the others are also stopped up.
* At your shower head, remove it and turn on the water to see if it flows freely and with pressure, if it does then the shower head is clogged. Take the shower head apart and clean it. I usually loose the water restrictor.
* There’s also a “Sacrificial Rod” hanging in the water tank that helps to prevent the inside from rusting. If it’s gone, then rust particles can flow into your hot water supply.
* Is your cold water flow ok at these locations?
* Adios.. Jasper

Jasper Castillo

[Unregistered-John Boy]

Rushforths

Check if the inlet shut-off valve for the hot water heater is open all the way. Since all the hot water presure is effected to all of the fixtures. I would say you have hard water an the outlet (hot) on top of the water heater is partly plugged off.

Turn off the inlet valve to the water heater, open a hot water faucet to make sure pressure is removed. Now if there is a union on top of the hot water outlet (hot) side, break (loosen) it.

If no union you will have to cut the pipe on the hot water outlet side (hot). Use a hammer and a small punch (or masonry drill)that will fit inside the hot water pipe & ream the blockage out.

Now you will have to install a union into the water line. You could use a copper x copper union (if you can solder) or if you
got the room, you could purchase a union that could slip onto the copper or plastic pipe and be tighten with pliers or small pipe wrenches.

I have seen alot of water heaters that sediment plugs off the water heater at the hot outlet side of the heater. You could fix this problem with a water softener.

Do a water test first for proper sizing of water treatment equipment.

John Boy

[Author]

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