View Full Version : Low pressure on hot side of faucet
418mullet
Sep 24, 2009, 06:16 PM
Shower and bathroom faucet have low pressure on hot side
letmetellu
Sep 24, 2009, 06:37 PM
The cause of this could be one of many things.
First are you faucets two handle or one handle faucets?
One cause is that the pressure coming out of the water heater tank can be lower than the cold water. Next it could be that the hot water side of the fuacet has some stoppage from trash that has washed out of the water heater
There is a plastic tube that goes down into the water heater on the cold side of the heater. This is called a dip tube, in some of the older heaters this tube would deterioate and break up into very small pieces, yet big enough to stop up the small openings or springs in faucets. Since this is only happening on the hot water side I suggest you try to usstop them if you think you have the knowledge and skill to try it.
If you have a water cut off on the main line to the house you need to turn it off and drain the pressure off the lines in the house.
Now take the faucet apart and using a flashlight see if you can see any trash in the openings in the faucet. If you don't see anything you can try to wash the faucet out.
Get someone to help you, have them hold a towel in front of the faucet, the one that you have taken the parts out of, while they are doing this you can turn on the water at the main cutoff just for a few seconds, maybe three, then turn it back off. Put that faucet back together and see if the pressure is better, if so then do the same thing to the other faucets.
If you both have a cell phone I have found it is a good way to communicate with each other about turning the watr on and off.
If this information helps you please let me know.
ballengerb1
Sep 24, 2009, 07:51 PM
I pretty much agree with the previous post. However if this is a deteriorated dip tube this problem would likely be at all hot taps. Follow those instructions maybe these two faucets just got the debris first. If it's a bad tube the debris will be white and when you squeeze it between your fingers it will feel like paste.
MAINTMANstl
Sep 24, 2009, 09:46 PM
Older home? Mineral deposits,bib washer breaking up stuck in valve body, shut off valve to faucet not fully open.
speedball1
Sep 25, 2009, 04:46 AM
If it's a bad dip tube the debris will be white and when you squeeze it between your fingers it will feel like paste.
Bob, I have to disagree with you here. A dip tube's made of plastic which is hard when squeezed. You're thinking of calcium carbonate which is soft when squeezed.
LetmetellU,
the pressure coming out of the water heater tank can be lower than the cold water That's a interesting observation. Would you like to explain it for the rest of us since it's the cold water that pressurizes the tank in the first place.
We're waiting! Tom
ballengerb1
Sep 28, 2009, 01:34 PM
Tom, you got me there in a weak moment. I picture what it felt like, just called up the wrong picture in my minds eye. Dip tube feels gritty
mygirlsdad77
Sep 28, 2009, 03:19 PM
LetmetellU,
That's a interesting observation. Would you like to explain it for the rest of us since it's the cold water that pressurizes the tank in the first place.
We're waiting!! Tom
I think what he is saying is if water heater nipples are plugged, you will get less hot water volume/pressure to hot side than cold. At least that's how I see it. Letmetellu, is my wild guess out of line, or are we on the same page. Lee.