My hot water is almost non existent but my cold water is fine. Yesterday while attempting to wash dishes it actually stop running all together and then a few seconds later started back up. The pressure is SO low that I couldn't even get the sinks spray nozzle to work. Any clue what this might be or some possible things I could check before replacing the entire thing? Like any place specific that something might be clogged with sediment or something? And this happening throughout the house... kitchen sink... bathroom sink and shower

Do you have low hot water pressure throughout the house or just the kitchen sink?
Do you have a recirculating system installed on your hot water system? There are things you can check but I need more details first. Back to you, Tom

No recirculating and its effecting the entire house. I let it run for about 10 minutes today and it stopped twice for a good 5 seconds or so each time and then started back up.

How often do you flush your heater? Gas or electric? Would you be in the UK where potable water's gravity fed? Is the hot water connected to a hot water heating system? Back to you. Tom

I noticed a slight pressure problem about 6 months ago and a friend flushed it but said it look to bad. No Im in the USA. And its just a standard hot water heater. I respect to flushing, is there anything you can add to help maybe loosen up and possible deposits from like hard water? Or do you think I just need to get a new water heater? There goes XMas if I have to get a new one.

Anyone else have any thoughts? Someone told me it could be an issue with a heat trap nipple being gunked up, but I have no idea if this could actually be this issue and if so where or how do I go about finding if there is a heat trap on this and what can be done to correct the issue. Hopefully whatever it is can be done easily by a non-plumber.

If you have heat trap nipples, (see image) I'd replace them with 3/4 X 4" brass nipples,

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do you think I just need to get a new water heater? There goes XMas if I have to get a new one

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You can stop fretting. If the tank has no leaks and the welds hold a any water heater can be rebuilt back as good as new, And don't let anybody tell you that they wear out after so many years. With proper care and maintenance they will last indefinitely. I have a single element under counter water heater that came with the house when it was built 58 years ago in 1954, Hang in there and we'll solve your problem. We have good plumbers working this page. Tom

Couple quick questions:

1. Would these be screwed right into the top of the heater?

2. Would they look exactly like in your picture with the dimples? (Even if older?)

3. Why would you suggest replacing with brass nipples? Wouldn't that take away from the energy saving feature of the heat trap? And also... I thought it was a no no to have brass srewed right into the water heater... something about a reaction of the brass on metal and creating rust?

To answer your questions-
1- Yes, They are screwed in the top of the heater,
2- What "dimple" would that be? These are nipples.
3- Hey! V You're the one asking about heat trap nipples.

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I thought it was a no no to have brass srewed right into the water heater... something about a reaction of the brass on metal and creating rust?

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We have always used brass nipples to convert to copper piping with no problems, What would you use? Galvanized nipples converting to copper? Now THAT'S a no-mo. Besides that, brass doesn't either rust or cause rust.
The energy loss would be very slight. The heat would simply be allowed to convect a foot or so back up the pipes.

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a friend flushed it but said it look to bad.

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What looked too bad? Did your friend flush or simply drain the heater?
You have to start somewhere. You don't give me much to work on, For instance you haven't told me if you have heat trap nipples. And why is someone else checking your heater? Are you a female with a good neighbor? If we get into a repair who will I be working with? You or your friend and how much plumbing skills does your friend have? Back to you, Tom

Sorry I meant to say "friend flushed it and it "didn't" look bad" it was actually rather clean.

Not sure if I have the heat traps and waiting for neighbor to have time to look.

And I am male but heater is installed at the end of this narrow hallway between our 2 apartments and I don't like tight spaces.

I am feeding the info to my neighbor who would be doing to physical work.

I will see if we can get a picture or 2 of what things look like.

Do you need instructions on how to attach a picture? Just ask. Tom

Sorry neighbor was being difficult to get over here, had to do it myself and it wasn't pleasant.

Not the greatest of pics and its filthy. Also I see what looked like a tiny leak going on at the mess on the right, but couldn't reach up high enough to check it but by the looks of that area it looks gunky like maybe its been leaking? I don't know what to make of it.

http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/3957/69464798.jpg

Tom? Any thoughts?