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Low hot water pressure
Magus`
The fun has been DOUBLED!Registered User regular
The fun has been DOUBLED!Registered User regular
Before anyone says it - I will look into a plumber but I wanted to see if there were any simple checks I could do.
Basically, the hot water pressure is very poor in my house. It's an older house but all the pipes have been replaced in the last few years with PVC and copper pipes.
We are utilizing a tankless water heater as we don't own the house and the land lord is basically in love with utilizing the technology. The problem is, the water pressure is so low after a certain point that it won't trigger the heater. Utilizing the kitchen sink itself is not enough flow to heat the water, for example.
So I was just looking to see if anyone had any suggestions before I call a plumber. The landlord seems unsure of what's going on after he looked at it.
Also, weird note - the sprayer (?) for the kitchen sink is odd. If using the cold lever and using the sprayer, the water completely stops coming out of the faucet. If using the hot lever it doesn't shut off at all (and the spray is even weaker).
Thanks in advance!
Basically, the hot water pressure is very poor in my house. It's an older house but all the pipes have been replaced in the last few years with PVC and copper pipes.
We are utilizing a tankless water heater as we don't own the house and the land lord is basically in love with utilizing the technology. The problem is, the water pressure is so low after a certain point that it won't trigger the heater. Utilizing the kitchen sink itself is not enough flow to heat the water, for example.
So I was just looking to see if anyone had any suggestions before I call a plumber. The landlord seems unsure of what's going on after he looked at it.
Also, weird note - the sprayer (?) for the kitchen sink is odd. If using the cold lever and using the sprayer, the water completely stops coming out of the faucet. If using the hot lever it doesn't shut off at all (and the spray is even weaker).
Thanks in advance!
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-Indiana Solo, runner of blades
My girlfriend is thinking it must be the tankless heater because the cold water temp is multiple times stronger. Unfortunately I know very little about the mechanics.
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-Indiana Solo, runner of blades
If you have a tankless water heater, they can develop significant scale/calcium deposits on the heating element if not routinely maintained. This can absolutely restrict flow.
A plumber is likely able to attempt to flush/clean the heater, but this CAN have unintended side-effects (like leaks after cleaning) depending on the severity. Sometimes cleaning works great, other times it can mean the replacement of the heater.
See if the tankless water heater is under warranty. They usually have a 5 or 10 year warranty. If it is older than 10 years, maybe just plan on having to replace it.
It sounds like someone fucked up your plumbing to be honest, especially with how that sink and sprayer is working.
Was this a handyman special or did the landlord actually have a certified/registered plumber come in and do the work?
Also, I just found out the "just replaced the pipes" meant over 6+ years ago.
Edit: Girlfriend said the heater has been here since she got here in 2013 and hasn't been worked on since then.
Steam Profile | Signature art by Alexandra 'Lexxy' Douglass
Probably just replaced the faucet supply lines and exposed hookups to the tankless water heater because digging up concrete pads and having plumbers rip out drywall isn't something I'd expect someone who uses a handyman to pay for.
Without yearly maintenance water heaters, heat/ac, washer/dryer drains and exhaust, chimenys, etc etc etc are kind of dangerous to the residents and the appliances themselves will have a greatly diminished lifespan/efficacy.
It's likely in need of some maintenance. Tankless should last you greater than or equal to about 20 years.
I'm not sure when my GF first noticed it. Some time ago, I would think.
Steam Profile | Signature art by Alexandra 'Lexxy' Douglass
Using a sump pump may not work if he didn't utilizing pressure valves for the input and output. I'll have to check when I'm back home tomorrow.
Steam Profile | Signature art by Alexandra 'Lexxy' Douglass
You would be looking for an in line pump. Something like this.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B076TGWYDK/ref=psdcmw_554568_t1_B07J41JBFL
But the kit to perform maintenance on scale buildup of tankless hot water heaters is like $150.
A plumber really needs to be called to address this. Your hot water heater is likely maybe a year or two from failure at this point and you don't want your landlord to shit on you for that (document your correspondence in a notebook with date/time and his response (print out emails and text messages) in case he tries to keep the deposit).
If you're doing this via phone just keep a log of when you're calling, about what, and his response as close to word for word as you can get. Record it if it's legal in your state.
Also, he didn't put in isolation valves when he installed it because of course.
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It will cost you nothing. It's not the renters duty to maintain the property or pay for maintenance.
~$200
What's the ground water temperature at where you live? Anything lower than 40f might be too much of a rise for that hot water heater without it being in series with another.
Check this link:
https://www.bradleycorp.com/image/6528/groundwater-temperature.png
The relationship, if you will, is that the landlord is the husband of my GF's aunt so I'm not even sure there is a lease.
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If there's an agreement you arrange for a plumber and have the owner billed, that's as far as it should go. Even that is being generous.