I have just moved into my first house, its 35 years old and probably has the same low pressure water heater from back in the day when the house was built. We have a problem with our hot water in our shower only. Cold water is excellent but as soon as you want it hot it just trickels out. I have noticed that the hot water cylinder (135L Rheem) is sitting on the floor of the house and these old tanks work on head pressure to get the hot water flowing. Our shower head is about 2m off the floor (we have a raised shower floor) and I was just wondering is there any way of getting more hotwater pressure without replacing the water heater. I also noticed the next door neighbour has some kind of valve attached to the end of there overflow pipe coming out of their roof, are we able to do the same?

Cheers

Johnsondiversy.

Not being familiar with water systems "down under" I need more details. How is the water supplied to the heater? Pump? Utilities Company? Water tank up in the attic? (This last because you said the only pressure it has is "head pressure") Head pressure means that the only pressure's supplied by gravity. Is that the case here? I notice the specs. On your water heater doesn't show a boiler drain. Can your heater be flushed out? Can you tell me what you figure the PSI, (pressure per square inch) is when it enters your tank? What supplies the cold water pressure and why doesn't that water enter the tank under the same pressure? Details, my friend, I need details.
Cheers, Tom

Hi I saw your posting trying to answer someone on their hot water flow problem. Can you help me?

My son has moved into a ground floor flat two day ago and has no hot water through his 'mixer shower'.

So far I've ascetained that flow to bath and kitchen taps is also poor. He lowered the shower spray head on the rail, far to low to use, but did at least get some hot water out of it.

Hi Trevor,
You've asked a question but have given me no details to work with. Does his flat have its own water heater? How old and what kind of pipes, PVC? Copper" Galvanized Iron? What's the brand name of his shower valve and how old is it?
" He lowered the shower spray head on the rail, far to low to use,"
Please explain what that means? He cut the volume way down or what?
Give me something to work with and I'll answer ASAP. Tom