Have a peculiar problem... hot water is very slow coming in all over the house. Discovered,by accident, that when the mixing faucet is opened up all the way on the kitchen faucet the hot water runs much faster.. Have tested everything and it works this way for all faucets . Any suggestions ?

What is a heat trap at the top of the tank...


How long since you flushed the water heater.
Have not flushed.Merely drew 2 buckets off.How to flush ?

Have tried draining tank. My next question is, can the installing of 3 mixing fixtures bath, bathroom sink, kitchen have any bearing on restricted hot water flow ? I ask because while I was using hot water in kitchen, the slow hot , my wife ran the other faucet on mixed hot and cold and the faucet that I was using ran freely and fully. When the other faucet was off the hot water returned to the same old slow flow. Seems weird but it works with each of the other mixers in use also . Any ideas on why ?

Check the pressure at the drain spigot at the bottom of your heater. If the pressure and volume are fine there then it could be a restriction at the heat trap at the top of the tank.

How long since you flushed the water heater.

Connect hose to the valve at the bottom of the heater, put other end of hose in sink, out the door, or in a floor drain. Open valve, let water run until it is clean and clear. Sediment in the water can accumulate in the bottom of the tank over time. All you are doing is flushing out that sediment so it doesn't stop up your pipes. After flushing, the valve may not want to shut off completely due to sediment. If this happens purchase a cap at local home service center or hardware store and put on valve.

Also insure that the valve on the cold water input to the heater is all the way open.
Water should come out of hose just about like it does when you use the hose outside.

robertoa, Harold gave you some great instructions which everyone should do once or twice a year. His mention of the garden hose cap in case the heater will not close is just perefct. I have had a high number of old heaters that woul;d not stop dripping after flushing, buy that brass cap before you flush. If you determine it may be the heat traps just ask if you need help with that.