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rkoneill4 · Dec 31, 2008, 11:42 AM

I have very low hot water pressure at all outlets. Nothing new has been done to system. I drained the hot water heater (Rheem gas Powervent model about 10 years old) with no change. While draining, I first left cold water valve open and water drained very slowly. With a hot water tap open and cold water valve closed, water flowed freely and drained. Water flowed clean. Refilled and same low pressure. Tried closing cold water valve, opening drain and turning on hot water tap furthest from heater to drain lines of debris. Refilled and still low pressure. Seems that cold water valve may be problem but lines are large copper and valve has not been touched in 10 years so don't know why it would suddenly clog. Is there anything inside the tank that might clog? Please help before I have to revert to a plumber. Thanks, Ron

afaroo · Jan 1, 2009, 01:10 AM

Hi Ron,

Have you removed the Aerators and cleaned them see the Image below?

If you done that, then Here is what you need to do.
Close the cold water valve open, open the heater drain, open the T&P valve and let water drain a few gallons, close the drain valve, close the T&P valve, open the hot side of a faucet inside the house, now open the cold water valve and listen to tank you should hear water coming to the tank, if the water is coming with good flow wait until the tank is full and you have water coming out of the faucet inside your house.

If you don't hear water coming to the tank, the cold shut off valve or the inlet nipple is the problem.

If heard the water coming to the tank and no water coming out of the faucet the problem is with nipple on hot side, you would need to remove and inspect and replace the nipples if required, good luck.

John

rkoneill4 · Jan 2, 2009, 08:17 AM

Thanks, John, for the initial response to my first post on the hot water low pressure throughout the house. Wasn't sure about checking the Aerators you suggested. Not sure where they are or that I have them on my heater. Further in your reply you mention the T&P valve. Not sure what that is either. All I have is a cold water inlet valve. Also, how do I get at the hot or cold water nipples? Does the fact that when I open the drain with the cold water valve open and the outflow is very low imply that the problem is most likely on the cold water side? Thanks, Ron

olivermax · Jan 2, 2009, 04:57 PM

Hello, Ron... You have a problem that I had about 25 years ago. It has to do with your hot water heater and you "do not have a water softener".

Since you have no water softener, your hot water side copper pipe of you hot water heater is plugged up with sedament, you need to pound it out with a screw driver. It's unbeliveable how any water can get through this porous rock that is created on the hot water side of the hot water heater, but it does and the result is "low hot water pressure throughout the house!

The only way to fix this is: (1) turn off the water supply.. (2)then if you can open the bottom valve of your hot water, just a little so the water level is lower than the copper pipe on the top of the water heater. (3) now you have to heat the soider on the copper pipe on the hot water side.. keep heating it till you can pull it off.. if that doesn't work, you will have to heat the soider on a higher pipe and suck out the water... water in the pipe will keep the pipe from getting hot enough to remove the copper pipe... once you get the pipe off... you will see what I mean... sediment in the hot water side... take a screw driver and pound it with a hammer... comes out real good... clear the pipe and reconnect the pipe by reheating the copper pipe and putting the pipe back together. You will see a great increase in water preasure on the hot side... good luck pat!

olivermax · Jan 2, 2009, 05:00 PM

Hello, Ron... You have a problem that I had about 25 years ago. It has to do with your hot water heater and you "do not have a water softener".

Since you have no water softener, your hot water side copper pipe of you hot water heater is plugged up with sedament, you need to pound it out with a screw driver. It's unbeliveable how any water can get through this porous rock that is created on the hot water side of the hot water heater, but it does and the result is "low hot water pressure throughout the house!

The only way to fix this is: (1) turn off the water supply.. (2)then if you can open the bottom valve of your hot water, just a little so the water level is lower than the copper pipe on the top of the water heater. (3) now you have to heat the soider on the copper pipe on the hot water side.. keep heating it till you can pull it off.. if that doesn't work, you will have to heat the soider on a higher pipe and suck out the water... water in the pipe will keep the pipe from getting hot enough to remove the copper pipe... once you get the pipe off... you will see what I mean... sediment in the hot water side... take a screw driver and pound it with a hammer... comes out real good... clear the pipe and reconnect the pipe by reheating the copper pipe and putting the pipe back together. You will see a great increase in water preasure on the hot side... good luck pal!