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If water pressure in your home is low only on the hot side, then the culprit is most likely to be found in and around the hot water heater.

DENVER, CO – As licensed plumbers serving the Denver metro area for more than 30 years, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Denver has seen and repaired just about every plumbing problem imaginable, from the simple to the most complex. One of the more interesting calls we get quite often is the issue of low water pressure in a home’s hot water only.

Poor water pressure, particularly when it happens all of a sudden or relatively quickly after years of proper service, is a plumbing issue we deal with all the time. There could be any number of causes, from a change in the municipal system’s pressure or a local main break, to clogging of the home’s internal piping systems, a problem we most often see in older homes with galvanized pipes.

But to lose water pressure just in the hot water side obviously suggests a link to the hot water system in the home. If the problem is localized – like one shower, sink or in the washing machine – then the problem is most likely in the fixture or the local pipes feeding the hot water to that fixture. We see this happen most often in areas where the local water (or well water) supply is highly acidic or “hard,” containing a higher degree of minerals. You can kind of spot this problem, especially on shower heads that get a build-up of white staining. Pressure can often be restored by simply cleaning out the showerhead with a solution of vinegar and warm water (sock the head for a few hours), or in sinks by cleaning out the internal aerators generally located at the tip of the faucet.

If that doesn’t work, you might have to do a little fixture repair. In single handle faucets, turn off the shut-off valves for both hot and cold water under the sink, remove the handle, remove the handle, loosen and remove the retaining collar, pull the ball cartridge out, and remove both washers and springs from the faucet. Place a glass or cup over the faucet and turn the hot water on and off several times, and while you’re at it, flush the cold side as well. When you reassemble the faucet, most likely everything will be okay.

In washing machines, the two water lines are attached to a water inlet valve on the back of the washer, and where the hose is attached there is a screen to catch any debris. Shut the water off on the hot side, remove that hose, and carefully pry the screen out of the valve with a small screwdriver, clean it and reinstall. Sometimes the hoses themselves will also have screens in the head with the screw connector, and these can be cleaned as well.

Of course, localized water pressure problems are the easy ones.

If there is a lack of hot water pressure to all fixtures in the house, then probably the problem is in or around the hot water heater. The hot water pressure in the home is basically determined by the cold water pressure. Water should enter the hot water heater at the same pressure it leaves to go throughout the home. If it doesn’t then the problem is somewhere in the hot water heater, the valves coming from the hot water heater or in the pipes.

As we mentioned earlier, some older homes have galvanized pipes and these tend to corrode over time. Unfortunately, about the only solution that works is to replace the pipes. We replace a lot of pipes in older homes for this reason.

However, low hot water pressure usually has to do with something in the hot water heater. Tank heaters build up a lot of sediment over the years, and there could easily be a blockage caused by loose rust or debris. Those in the know recommend flushing – not just draining and refilling – hot water heaters every three months as part of regular maintenance, but if you are like most people the chances are pretty good you have never done this. Ben Franklin Plumbing does, of course, offer hot water heater flushing service, but if you are a DIYer you can attach s hose to the water heater drain valve, run it outside, turn the drain valve on and let it run a while. If there is a blockage, the water will probably run red for a while and then when it clears the blockage is probably gone. Shut the valve off, drain the water heater, and all should be well.

There could also be a problem in the water shut-off valve coming

out of the hot water heater going into the house. This valve may say “open,”  but it may be broken and need replacing. You’ll have to shut the water off leading into the hot water system, drain the tank, then remove and replace the out-going shut-off valve.  Like all plumbing projects, this

requires a certain level of skill and know-how.

And then, of course, the source of low hot water pressure just may be an old, worn-out hot water heater. After a while, especially if regular maintenance wasn’t followed, a 40-gallon water heater tank will be so built up with sediment that it really has a 20-gallon or less capacity, and this can effect water pressure. The solution? Get a new water heater.

Ben franklin Plumbing can provide any of the services mentioned in this post, and we always guarantee our work.

One of our best recommendations on the hot water side of plumbing these days is the replacement of your tank water heater with our exclusive GoHOT tankless hot water system. These systems provide endless hot water since they heat it on demand, use far less energy because essentially they are off until needed, and with our expert installation service all water pressure issues will be addressed and guaranteed.

Visit our website for more details on GoHOT tankless hot water systems at http://www.benfranklinplumbingdenver.com/tankless-water-heaters.php. And go to our home page http://www.benfranklinplumbingdenver.com/ for a complete rundown of all of our plumbing services, experience and commitment to our customers.

 

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 23rd, 2011 at 3:05 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You may go back home or view the services we offer. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.