Your hot water pressure can drop suddenly or inexplicably. Low pressure can be an ongoing problem that worsens over time.
There are factors always in play whenever you have low hot water pressure, cold water pressure, or an extremely steaming hot shower. Both cold water supply and hot water passing through your hot water system tank must have the same pressure.
Widespread low water pressure can indicate serious plumbing problems in your hot water system. A discrepancy in the cold and hot water flow rates may be due to hot water system problems or issues with your home’s entire water supply system, which may make the hot water pressure low. This should be taken care of quickly.
But be warned: Don’t tinker with your hot water system to solve your low hot water pressure problems. It can be dangerous. If you need to have your hot water pressure looked at or if you need to test your Thermostatic Mixing Valve (TMV), which blends hot water with cold water to ensure constant, safe shower and bath outlet temperatures and prevent scalding, contact a licensed and trusted plumbing professional.
Tempering valves, like any mechanical item, are prone to failure. Problems with tempering valves can cause various issues, including a complete loss of hot water supply, a lack of pressure or a reduced hot water temperature. Besides leaking around the tempering valve connections, detecting a problem in your hot and cold water can be challenging for the untrained.
So, if you suspect the tempering valve could be the problem, contact a plumber. TMVs must be tested yearly to ensure the hot water temperatures remain suitable and safe to avoid issues like low water pressure. And to see if the valves are fully compliant and functioning correctly. The good news is that replacing a tempering valve is much cheaper than replacing the entire hot water system.
Let’s look at some causes of low hot water pressure. Having a better insight will help you solve and restore the water flow and ensure it doesn’t happen again or when to call the professional to do the job.
1. Accumulation Of Sediment And Scale In Your Hot Water System
If only the hot water encounters low pressure, you might need a plumber to clean and flush your hot water unit. As your tank ages and corrodes, sediment and scale can build up. You are not free from sediment build-up and scale build-up, whether you use an electric or tankless gas hot water system; when the interior of the tank corrodes, the corroding particles find their way down to the tank’s base. They may be drawn gradually into the hot water pipes, causing blockage and a drop in water pressure. Also, check your shower head; sediments can build up, causing low water pressure.
For a relatively new hot water heater, flushing and cleaning the sediment and scale from the tank’s interior will work. However, replacing a complete hot water system is better for older systems. Invite your plumber to determine the better option.
2. Plumbing Lines With Several Bends
You will likely find an accordion-type copper water pipe in your tank-type hot water system. These pipe types are known to bend easily. Water flow is impaired in serious bends, and blocked pipes can even cause low water pressure.
The pressure of hot water systems could be affected if water passes through many bends before emerging from the faucet. With each angle or passage through each elbow, the pressure reduces slightly.
You can repipe the plumbing lines that lead to problematic faucets. But if the issue affects the entire system, you can install a pressure regulator if you don’t have one yet. Your plumber can set the regulator to increase your hot water pressure.
3. Partially-closed Shutoff Valve
A partially closed shutoff valve and the water meter valve can reduce water flow, reducing pressure throughout your home’s hot water supply system.
The simple fix is to open the shutoff valve completely. This allows consistent water flow at the highest speed and pressure possible without any hindrance.
4. General Low Water Pressure
The entire house can experience a sharp drop in lower pressure. In such cases, both the cold and hot water supplies flow reluctantly. The fix is usually from the main water supply entering your home.
You can install a pressure regulator if you don’t have one yet. Ask your plumber to set the regulator to increase your hot water pressure.
5. Wrong Sizes Of Water Lines
When the size of the water supply lines is considerably smaller than that of the main water supply or vice versa, the water pressure will decrease. Water will tend to flow from the large pipe into a smaller pipe.
Repiping is the first option here. This makes the supply lines bigger. This, in turn, reduces friction while increasing the pressure. Note that the effect, i.e. the increase in pressure – can be considerably pronounced in some cases.
6. Faulty Or Wrong Configuration Of The Pressure Regulator
If your pressure regulator is not set correctly, there will not be adequate water pressure throughout your home.
Start by checking the regulator’s settings. You can tune it properly to the normal pressure. But if the setting is correct and you still have reduced water pressure in the cold and hot water lines, you may have a broken pressure regulator; consider replacing it. Call your professional plumber.
7. Worn Out Fixture
A worn-out fixture or faucet will contain high amounts of scale, reducing the hot water pressure. The simple fix is to replace the affected faucets and perhaps avoid hard water.
Suppose you have confirmed that the faucet or fixture is the reason for the drop. Ask your plumber to replace them with new ones.
Need a Plumbing Service?
You might not be a plumber, but sometimes, plumbing emergencies, like hot water issues, have straightforward solutions. It’s a good idea to troubleshoot basic, but don’t take your hot water system apart with a wrench! It’s still best to seek the help of professionals for urgent tasks like low hot water pressure.
Whether you’re looking for a hot water service fix or a total replacement, trust the best plumbers in Sydney at Fixed Today to do this emergency plumbing. You can contact us to install a new hot water system, whether an electric hot water system, instantaneous hot water system, or gas hot water system. But we’re not just your expert hot water plumbers! Our full range of plumbing services includes maintenance and repairs for other plumbing issues — all for a reasonable price.
Contact the hot water system experts and get your hot water systems fixed by Fixed Today, your experienced plumber!
We’ll fix your low hot water pressure and give you a free home inspection to ensure your plumbing system is as good as new and that your pipes and water lines aren’t leaking.
