Hot water is not just a luxury but a necessity. In the cold mornings, you can take a shower comfortably, thanks to your trusty hot water system. Hot water cleans more than dirt; you have the heat on your side to get rid of mud, grease, oil, and grime.
Just like your blood pressure, the right water pressure is significant. In most residential homes, 60 PSI is enough. Anything higher than 80 PSI can result in expensive damage, causing heaters and toilets to stop functioning correctly.
Similarly, anything lower than 40 PSI can cause frustration. Imagine looking forward to a relaxing shower expecting a soothing torrent only to get little trickles of water. It could be just one tap or all taps that may have lost pressure. This blog post will help you check for eight causes of low hot water pressure and the actions you need to take after.
8 Reasons Why You Have Low Hot Water Pressure
To determine how to fix low hot water pressure, you should first know the root cause of the problem. Here is a list of reasons why hot water pressure becomes faulty:
1. Hot Water System Needs Replacement
Every appliance has an expiry, unfortunately. Even if you have a quality hot water system and it’s routinely serviced, it will not last forever. Normally, you can expect water heaters to last a good 10 to 15 years. But this lifespan is drastically reduced if the heater is already poor quality and worse if it is rarely checked by a professional.
If you have never called a plumber for maintenance of your hot water system, likely, it will not reach its life expectancy. In this case, you have no other choice than to have the heater repaired or even replaced.
2. The Pipes Are Corroded
Do you live in an older home? If so, there is a huge possibility that low water pressure is a result of a scale and corrosion build-up. It is not always easy to check the old steel pipes installed in the house. However, if you could assess their condition, you would generally see rust, which can easily restrict water flow in your home.
Corrosion does not happen in just a few years. That’s why it usually occurs in homes that are several years old. Additionally, it develops slowly, so you might not even notice the difference until it gets worse.
3. Water Is Leaking
Water leaks are a huge problem that should be fixed right away; otherwise, you will pay high water bills. If there is indeed a water leak in your house, it will reduce the pressure of water that you get from your taps. But the good news with water leaks is that they are often easy to find unless concealed within walls.
If you have low hot water pressure in your bathroom sink, make sure to look behind the sink itself. Then, check the drywall to see if it is soaked. If so, that means you will need to remove the drywall before repairing the line.
4. You Have Defective Taps
Sometimes, the problem is not the hot water system itself; it’s just your tap or showerhead. The easiest way to confirm whether it is a tap issue is if the low water pressure only occurs in one tap. If the other taps in the house function properly, giving you the correct water pressure, there’s the obvious answer. The solution is to replace the tap washer.
Old taps can malfunction. Usually, the problem with them is that they have collected high amounts of limescale through the years. This accumulated scale will greatly reduce hot water pressure. Solve this issue by replacing the affected taps. It’s also a good idea to avoid hard water.
5. The Water Heater Valve Is Partially Closed
Believe it or not, several low hot water pressure issues are due to a partially closed shutoff valve. This will cause reduced pressure across the entire system in the house. You can already tell how easy the fix is, and that is to simply open the valve completely. This will quickly result in a consistent flow of water, giving you the highest pressure and speed possible.
If there still feels like something is blocking hot water flow, you may need to check other issues. Sometimes, there can be low water pressure in general. A pressure regulator may be required to help with the problem.
6. You Have Clogged Plumbing
Similar to corroded pipes, clogged plumbing means something is blocking the plumbing system, which reduces water pressure. One sign that you have clogged plumbing is when the water valves are completely open, yet you are experiencing the same issue. If the pipes are new, you can discount corrosion, leaving clogging as the possible culprit.
Unfortunately, clogged plumbing is not usually a problem you should deal with on your own. The water lines may be behind the walls or even under your house. A professional plumber should be called to check and figure out the best solution.
7. The Pressure Regulator Has Malfunctioned
Do you have a pressure regulator? If it is not set correctly, it will eventually malfunction, causing inadequate or low hot water pressure in your Perth home. You will first have to check the settings to ensure that the pressure regulator is indeed the problem. Tune the device into normal pressure, and see if it makes a difference.
If the problem does not go away or you still have reduced water pressure in both hot and cold water lines, the pressure regulator may need a replacement. You should call a professional plumber to complete this task for you.
8. The Plumbing Work Is Dodgy
It is tempting to cut costs and pick a plumber that offers super cheap services. Most of these so-called plumbers are not even licenced to perform the job. As a result of trying to save money, you end up spending more. That’s because of the dodgy plumbing work where you have to hire another plumber to do the same job.
Always work with a trustworthy plumber, whether you have low hot water pressure in your home or other plumbing issues. Often, inexperienced plumbers will use different sizes of pipes, which will cause incorrect water pressure and eventually a malfunctioning hot water system.
How We Can Help
Simple plumbing issues can be resolved with a little bit of DIY work. However, it’s not a good idea to learn how to fix hot water pressure on your own – unless, of course, you know exactly what you’re doing. Leave the job to the pros. Perth Local Plumbing & Gas will diagnose the low hot water pressure issue and provide the best and quickest solution for you. That way, you can enjoy hot water again. Call us, and we’ll get your hot water system fixed in no time.
And if you need hot water early the next day, don’t worry! We’ll come knocking on your door before the sun shines. Our emergency plumbing services will make sure your plumbing system will work as good as new. Contact us today!
