When you take a shower, it’s just a trickle of water that runs from the showerhead. Same thing when you have to do your dishes. Let’s explore the reasons for this drop in performance, and especially how to fix it.
A low flow rate of hot water is a real handicap for everyday life. A number of causes can explain this drop in pressure. An overview of the possible causes and solutions to fix the situation.
Why do I have low hot water flow?
If the loss of pressure concerns the cold and hot water in your home, first eliminate the hypothesis of a general problem: your town, neighborhood or residence may be impacted by a distribution or leak problem. Then contact the water department, to whom you pay the bill, or your condominium trustee.
If only your home is affected, look for a pipe leak. In addition to the cost incurred, a leak affects the distribution of water in your home and therefore its pressure. To prove it, turn off all the taps and check if your water meter is still running. Contact a plumber to fix it.
If there is no leak, check the water supply to your home (near your meter): a half-closed valve affects the water pressure. Open it completely.
Then take a look at your pressure reducer, a small element placed near your water heater or hot water tank, designed to limit the pressure in your pipes. If necessary, adjust it. Be careful, not all water heaters have a reducer.
Finally, white vinegar will be useful if only a mixer tap or a shower are struggling: scale is often responsible for this variation. Unscrew the aerators of your taps and the water holes of your shower head and clean them with anti-scale white vinegar. If necessary, replace your defective taps.
How to increase hot water pressure?
You’ve tested all your faucets, and the problem only occurs when you use hot water? Then you need to turn to your water heater.
Start with a quick check of your installation: presence or absence of corrosion, leak check, suspicious noises. The thermostat and the pressure valve must also be checked. Then, remember to descale your tank. Scaling due to water that is too hard can cause a drop in flow rate.
If your appliance is electric, turn off the electricity and water and empty your pipes before starting to descale. Be careful when draining, because the temperature of the outlet water is high. Don’t forget to place a bucket to collect it. Once the fittings have been dismantled and the tank emptied, access the tank and clean it carefully. This operation should give your installation a new lease of life and solve your water flow problem. Be careful, if you are not familiar with DIY or if your tank is difficult to access, call a professional instead.
