The hot water pressure(cold is fine) throughout my house except for the washer and basement faucet has decreased to just a little more than a trickle and is taking forever become hot. I live in an old house and my husband is thinking that we will need to put in all new plumbing. What can we do to try to solve this situation that is not so drastic? Please help I’m really tried of taking cold showers!

speedball1

Hi Jen,

It sounds like you have galvanized piping and I'll bet you don't flush your heater on a regular monthly maintainence schedule. Over the years galvanized pipes build up iron oxcide,(rust) and the hot water pipes add to the problem by introducing mineral build-up from the heater. Your best bet may be to replace the hot water pipes with CPVC plastic pipes. You may try to flush the lines by turning off the water and opening up the faucets and checking the inlet ports in the cartridge for crud. Then with the faucet still open turn on the hot water and flush out the supply line.

Let me show you how to flush your heater. Attach a hose to the boiler drain at the bottom of the tank. With the pressure on, open the boiler drain and let it run untill the water runs clear. You will see a spurt of red,(rust) and some white grains,(lime or calcium carbonate). The whole thing shouldn't take more then a few minutes. Don't forget to flush it out every month. Your heater will thank you for it. You might want to consider cleaning the screens on your areators if you have a high mineral buildup. If thev problem still persists after you have flushed, you will have to drain the heater, remove the boiler drain and go up in the bottom of the tank with a wood or plastic rod, (not metal) and try to break up the mineral and flush it out. Good luck, . TOM

mrpubbs

The hot water pressure(cold is fine) throughout my house except for the washer and basement faucet has decreased to just a little more than a trickle and is taking forever become hot. I live in an old house and my husband is thinking that we will need to put in all new plumbing. What can we do to try to solve this situation that is not so drastic? Please help I’m really tried of taking cold showers!

speedball1

Do you have older galvanized pipes in your house?
Before you repipe the house shut the water off to the house and remove the basement faucet. Hold a pail over the open line and turn the water back on to flush out the line. Do the same with the washers hot water. You should have a strong stream coming out of the open pipe. If not then click on back. You might also look at the post above and flush out your water heater. Good luck, Tom