I recently installed a new 50 gal. electric water heater, my home has a well and pump system with a bladder tank, right after I installed the water heater, my hot water pressure was down throughout the house, not enough to be a problem any where but the showers, when a shower is on and the hot water is turned on elsewhere the shower goes cold. Any ideas? I've raised my system pressure from 30/50 to 35/55, bladder tank pressure is good. Thanks.

This sounds like an obstruction was created when you installed the heater. Put a water pressure gauge on the drain spigot to tell if the clog is on the fed side or supply

Follow Ballenger's advice... good place to start. However, you did not mention a drop in PRESSURE or VOLUME when the hot water was turned on and the showers went cold... right? Just that the showers went cold... right?

If so, then tell me how many handles at your shower valves... one, two or three? If more than one handle then this unbalanced temperature issue is something that frequently occurs with older style valves.

If you have single handle shower valves hen this should not occur as all single handle shower valves are temperature and pressure balanced for years and years now!

Let us know more... OK?

Mark

Since the issue is "throughout" the house I am thinking something on the main supply or outlet line of the heater. Does it have heat trap nipples?

I did miss the "throughout"... ;)

Yeah, either the water heater cold water shutoff or the nipples could be the issue. I'd open the valve at the bottom of the water heater and see how the pressure seems. If unreasonable, remove the water heater shutoff and replace. If not, then you would need to look for other shutoffs after the hot water comes out of the heater and remove them/test them as needed.

Mark

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ballengerb1

since the issue is "throughout" the house I am thinking something on the main supply or outlet line of the heater. Does it have heat trap nipples??

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Yes it has heat trap nipples, It had new ball valves installed on both lines. Should I remove those nipples? I'm going to check pressure at tank drain tomorrow. I'll let you know. Thanks

Play detective by checking line pressure in the house, the pressure on the drain spigot and lastly on the line after the heater, a bit harder to rig up. All should be the same , around 45 psi. Let us know what you get. All low would mean a main supply clogged which is unlikely. 45 on line but less on the drain it's a bad fed line. Line and heater spigot 45 psi but less than that after the heater means clogged fed coming out or after the heater