You turn on a faucet and outcomes hit the water. It is something most people in the western world take for granted, although there are as many as 2.1 billion people in the world that lack access to safe drinking water, never mind hot water!
Thankfully, you can access hot water. But, knowing the above doesn’t make it any easier to deal with a pressure drop in your hot water supply. It certainly ruins a good shower.
The solution is to contact the professionals, such as Rheem hot water, and have them repair or replace your hot water heater.
However, while it is not a good idea to tamper with the system yourself, it can be useful to understand a little more about it and why you may have lost pressure.
Debris
Deposits will always appear on the inside of water pipes. This is due to minerals in the water, they attach to the inside of the pipes and slowly build up. When they get big enough they impede the flow of water sufficiently, the pressure will drop. There simply isn’t enough space for the water in the pipes.
This increases the pressure at the blocking point but, due to the pipes widening again afterward, creates low pressure where you need it.
Flushing your system can resolve this and is easier than replacing the pipes.
Showerhead Issues
Your showerhead often fills with calcium and minerals much faster than your pipes. This creates a blockage that decreases the pressure of the water in your shower because there simply isn’t enough water getting through.
You can remove the showerhead, take it apart, and clean it. Or if you prefer you can simply replace it.
Leaks
When a water pipe is leaking inside a wall it can be difficult to spot. However, the leak means the flow through the pipe is reduced and this lowers the pressure.
You’ll need to search your home for signs of a leak. It is most obvious as wet or damp patches on the floors, ceilings, or even the walls. Once identified, the damaged section will need to be removed and replaced.
Aging Hot Water System
Sometimes the pressure drop is simply because the hot water system is aging and starting to fail. This makes it very difficult to pinpoint the exact fault. You’ll probably find it best to speak to the professionals who will assess whether to repair or replace the system.
If the system is at fault it will probably be looking tired and making some strange noises. The sooner you get an expert opinion the better.
Fixing The Issue
Each of the above issues can be resolved, you simply need to know how to identify them and what to do about the issue.
Being able to diagnose the issue doesn’t mean you need to fix it. It simply means you have a better idea of what is wrong and can verify that the plumber is dealing with you fairly.
