How To Simply Fix Low Water Pressure from Your Water Heater

Low water pressure from your water heater can ruin your day.

You see, you cannot go a day in your household without using water, whether it’s in meal prep or laundry, or even bathing. Don’t forget where it’s mostly used–the toilet, where you have to pee or poo. If you have children, you’ll probably be cleaning up after them more often than not with water. It is too important to live a day without.

Away from the core needs, which usually use room temperature water, other water temperature variants like hot or cold water are needed at specific times. As such, it becomes inconvenient when both are unavailable at the time needed, especially hot water.

Thankfully, whatever goes wrong with your private plumbing has a fix. In this guide, you will learn all about the fixes you can carry out on your water heater with low pressure.

What is Low Hot Water Pressure?

Low hot water pressure happens when your heater isn’t receiving or supplying enough water for your daily needs. You usually don’t catch this issue until you want to run water over your dishes or take a shower.

Sometimes, the water pressure changes when the water is running. You may be running water over your dishes or taking a shower, and the flow suddenly slows. And no matter how many times you turn the tap on and off, the pressure doesn’t return to how it was.

While low hot water pressure indicates issues, your water heater may not be the problem. The water could still be hot even with the reduced pressure. However, the heater could become a part of the problem if the pressure issues are not attended to as soon as possible.

The most observable symptom of low hot water pressure is the restricted flow of water. Some other symptoms include:

• Fluctuating Water Flow

If you experience fluctuating water flow, it is one of the symptoms of low hot water pressure issues. You tend to see this when you switch between the hot and cold options on your tap.

• Partial Water Main

This is also one of the symptoms of low hot-water pressure. It could be directly from the water heater source, whereby one or some of your taps experience this case.

• Slow Water Flow

This is what many homeowners report as a symptom when calling in a low water pressure problem. Whether the flow fluctuates or there’s partial supply, the overall slowness in water flow is an indicator of low hot water pressure issues.

Causes of Low Water Pressure in Your Water Heater

Many things could cause low water pressure in your heater. It could be an aged water pipe problem, sediments blocking the water supply/flow, or a burst pipe.

Depending on the noticeable symptom, you can narrow down the cause. The symptoms have been shared in the previous section. Below are the causes of those symptoms:

Sediments and Minerals

Often, the most common cause of low hot-water pressure is sediment and mineral deposits in corroded pipes. From the day you begin to use your water heater, sediments (minerals that are extracted and precipitated from heated water) start building up.

Although the amount may be subject to the frequency of use, they build up over time and accumulate at the lowest base of the tank.

The first consequence of the sediment buildup is the reduction in the rate of water storage. That is, the amount of water that the water heater tank can hold and discharge. The other consequence is low water pressure.

Blockages

Corrosion of the piping also causes blockages. As the tank/pipe corrodes, it can cause blockages and low water pressure. The clogged pipe with sediments from the tank or pipe that falls off because of corrosion loses its ability to discharge water as it should.

Faulty Pressure Regulator or Heater

As the name implies, they control and regulate the water pressure in your water heater. Faulty regulators can cause low hot water pressure. The heater itself can also be the problem, which means you have to fix certain parts or replace the entire thing.

Can You Fix Low Water Pressure Yourself?

You can carry out a DIY fix for low water pressure, whether hot or cold. You can start by reviewing the recent use or evaluating the age of the water system. With the right tools at hand, you can decouple the water heater equipment.

However, it is best to engage in safety practices and the services of professionals. This especially speaks to when you find out that you have to carry out major maintenance or a complete replacement of the water heater equipment.

If you are confused or unsure of what to do, it is best to call up the services of an expert. One of the reasons you need a professional is to prevent potential water heater explosions.

Insured and certified plumbers also help and have access to the latest and highest-quality tools. They can also provide guides for post-repair maintenance and to avoid future recurrence.

However, if you know what you’re doing, you can attempt to fix low water pressure at home under safety guidelines.

Tools Required For Low Water Pressure Fixes 

• Screwdrivers 

Screwdrivers are essential tools for DIY home repairs. Coming in various sizes, you can use them for internal plumbing works and low water pressure fixes.

You will need the screwdriver to disassemble your water heater so you can clean it up.

• Safety Gloves and Goggles

As simple as fixing your low-water heater may seem, safety materials must be in place. Water spills can be minimal, but you don’t want to suddenly be splashed with hot water, now, do you? You need safety gear for low hot water pressure DIY fixes.

Wear gloves and goggles to protect yourself from hot water splashes. These protect you during emergency work and repairs while ensuring your safety. Wear thick clothing too, so that the ones that fall on your clothing do not touch your skin.

• Wrenches

These are also one of the DIY tools for emergency plumbing repairs. A pipe wrench is a tool that comes in handy, especially for water heater repairs. You can use it most in standard connections, especially when handling rusty galvanised pipes that are difficult to turn. You can find them in types that suit different pressure variations.

• Pipe Repair Clamp

A pipe repair clamp is an ideal tool to have and sort out your low water pressure issues. Pipes connect your water heater and the storage tank, and they are subject to damage or internal leaks. These often need instant and thorough repairs to get them back in shape.

The pipe clamp features a clamp that fixes the pipe in place when you want to fix it or replace it. You place them on the leaking parts to fix your water pipes. They come in different pressure variations, including the full circle repair clamp, and they are easy to use.

• Garden Hose and Bucket

You can flush off the tank with the aid of a garden hose. When you do, collect the disposed water with your bucket to avoid spillage or splashes in the home. These tools make the work easier in directing the channels of the water flow.

• Pressure Gauges

Pressure gauges are for measuring the water pressure in the heating and pipes. For DIY fixes, the water gauge comes in handy for gauging how much pressure is discharged after fixing.

How To Fix Low Water Pressure from Your Water Heater – DIY Tips

As stated earlier, if you can identify the causes of the symptoms you can recognise, and you have any of the tools listed in the previous section, and if you understand the safety precautions you must take before doing any DIY fixes on hot water systems, you can fix low hot water pressure issues yourself.

The steps outlined below are what you should be following if you want to do it yourself:

Check for Blocked Faucets and Valves 

Ensure that the faucets and stop valves are not blocked, as well as flexi hoses in the heater. Check the aerator at the tip of the faucet to see if any sediments might have blocked the faucet, and remove them using a plier or wash the aerator.

Flush Water Heater

Before flushing, ensure that the heater is not powered or plugged into any electric source for safety. Also, ensure that the water supply network to the heater is turned off.

To flush, connect a garden hose to the drain valve of the heater and discharge the water outside. After discharge, flush the heater with cold water to ensure that all remaining sediments are removed. After flushing, be sure to close the drain valve correctly to avoid leakage of water from the heater.

Inspect the Shut-off Valves

Locate the main shut-off valve and see if there is any form of water leaks or rust on the stop valve, as these may be responsible for low hot water pressure from the heater.

Any steps outside of this that you may have to take should be taken by a professional plumber. This is so that you don’t make matters worse and end up spending more than you should have.

What To Expect From Professional Plumbers During Low Hot Water Pressure Fixes

Verify the Problem

A good plumber will first verify the problem. There are various causes of a decline in the rate of water pressure. With their trained eyes, they will spot the particular problem you’re dealing with and take other steps, if necessary.

Turn off the Water System

A good plumber will turn off the water heater system, whether it’s working well or not. They will especially do it if you call them in for water pressure issues, because accidents can easily happen if they don’t.

Turning off the water system helps to put the fault in check, first of all. It also prevents further damage to the default layout. You should do this even before the plumber comes. You can also disconnect the water inflow to the heater from the tank.

Carry Out Fixes

This is the next step for a professional lumber. As outlined in earlier sections, low hot water pressure issues are caused by a few issues that you can fix at home. However, some things will need a professional’s touch. Once they shut off the system and verify the problem, they will begin the fix, i.e. solve the problem.

How to Locate a Reliable Plumber

First of all, some plumbers don’t have expertise or experience with hot water systems. You need to be careful who you call so that you don’t end up causing more problems for yourself.

In Sydney, you can engage the services of Plumber Sydney for a quick response time to your fix. While the cost of major faults could vary, you can count on them for transparent pricing.

The following are ways to find a reliable plumber for your low water pressure issues, especially hot water valve issues:

Search Online

The quickest way to locate a plumber in your local area is online. If you want to engage one for your water fixes, you can find one through your mobile device or specific search sites.

• Google Searches

You can locate a plumbing service near you through a simple search on Google. Especially if it is your first time. The search filter allows you to extend and narrow your search based on your location and the keyword for the needed service.

Typing the search string “plumber service Sydney” in Sydney will help you find plumbers around you. You can then narrow your search to find one that fixes water heater problems.

• Social Media

From Facebook to X, and even LinkedIn, you can find reliable plumbers on social media. Plumbing services have media handles that offer advertisements and showcase the broad range of services they offer.

You can find one through your account and follow up. It is a more concise avenue to search for the latest works and projects, or even speak with customers to learn more about the plumber that interests you.

Read Reviews

Reviews are a key way to assess and select plumbers. Beyond finding a nearby plumber online, it is essential to check for reviews about their services, including their ratings.

These reviews can be from customers, partners, or even their feedback to these people. It helps you to pinpoint your specific search and get the needed services for your water heater.

Ask for Recommendations

Recommendations are reliable and provide alternative ways to locate a plumber. You can request recommendations from individuals or customers who have previously engaged plumbers to find the needed option.

You can ask your neighbours to recommend plumbers who have handled their in-home services. This is even easier as they can relate well to the plumbing structures in your area and the terrain of the immediate environment.

Also, you can request recommendations from individuals who’ve used a plumbing service.

Plumbing Associations

Water Services Association of Australia comprise different categories of licensed plumbers. If you are looking for a reliable plumber for low water pressure fixes, they are a go-to option. You will find plumbers specialised in home repairs, with practices and service fees that are in line with the Australian Standards AS/NZS 3500.

One of the advantages of plumbing associations is that you can find certified members. You can also find professionals with extended years of experience. These individuals can provide a lasting fix and extra guides to prevent future recurrence.

You will also enjoy the benefits of using updated tools for well-fitted repairs.

Conclusion 

Low water pressure from your water heater can occur unexpectedly, but the fix is not as hard as it looks. The DIY tips are easy to understand, but, as with many other internal plumbing issues, some things are better left to the professionals.

It becomes simpler to handle if you reside in Sydney, because Plumber Sydney is only a call away.

You can look up and contact the nearest centre in your area. With the services of licensed plumbers at Plumber Sydney, you can put behind the inconvenience of low water pressure.