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Test hot water volume /pdf
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Low hot water pressure Test hot water volume /pdf |
| 16 steps for finding Hot water pressure problem | |
 1)
Start with temporary pressure gaugeOne that reads up to 100-200 psi and has threads that screw onto hose bibb. For example 200 psi Rain Bird P2A or 100 psi Brady BTG 100 I purchased my pressure gauge at local ACE hardware Buy: Water pressure gauges Watts telltale Pressure Gauge 276H300 Temperature pressure gauge Telltale pressure gauge is left in place for a day, and marks the highest pressure so user can tell if there are pressure spikes that are causing TP valve to leak water, or other possible problems |
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 Permanent pressure gauge |
Or
Permanent
pressure gauge on cold
water line Pressure over 80 psi can damage tank and shorten life of plumbing fixtures 1/4" pipe thread Buy: Pressure gauges at Amazon Temperature pressure gauge Resources: How far hot water travels in 30 seconds |
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2)
Put temporary gauge on water heater drain valve
3) Open drain valve, and see if pressure gauge moves Open drain valve counterclockwise If there is no pressure, tank drain is clogged Resources: How to open clogged water heater drain How to replace drain valve |
| 4)
Turn OFF all water taps
5) Put ear against pipe and listen for water leak 6) Note static pressure when no water is being used |
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7)
Turn ON 2 or 3 COLD taps
8) Does pressure fall? |
| 9)
If pressure falls a lot, then supply to house could be clogged If pressure falls a lot, then supply pipe to house could be clogged. Run same test on outdoor spigot nearest water meter. Check if neighbors have same problem. This will show if supply line to house is clogged or water main has low pressure. People on water well: check pressure switch on pump. |
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10)
Close COLD taps
11) Open 1 HOT tap 12) Does pressure fall? |
| 14)
If pressure falls a lot, then supply to heater is clogged With new water heater, Look at heat trap nipples: Remove cold side supply. Check if water will flow when not connected to water heater. Look down into nipple for clog or replace heat trap nipples. If water will not flow when disconnected from water heater, then look at water heater shut off valve for possible clog, and then go back to split where incoming cold watersupply branches off to water heater. |
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15)
If pressure does not fall, then turn ON 2-3 more hot taps
16) If pressure still doesn't fall, then hot-side outlet of water heater is clogged. |
| If whole house has low pressure | |
 Larger image |
Then clog starts somewhere
in the incoming cold water
line before it reaches water heater, or at cold water tee. Cold water tee is where cold water line splits: one line supplies cold water to each faucet, other line supplies cold water to water heater. 1) If cold runs fine, but hot water has low pressure, then test with pressure gauge as shown in 16 steps above. AND read about crossover. Testing will tell if clog is before or after water heater. 2) Use pipe wrench and take apart unions. A union allows two threaded pipes to join together. Take photos of pipes before starting so that pipes can be reassembled easily. 3) Begin by inspecting inside each pipe and at each join. Pipes can fill with sediment over time. Sediment can break loose and catch at any joint or elbow Cold inlet and hot outlet can be clogged with sediment Cold inlet and hot outlet can be clogged with minerals if water heater temperature is set above 140° F |
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Di-electric
unions can clog Di-electric unions have rubber washer that can leak Rust and sediment can gather at union. |
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Use
brass connections when connecting copper pipe and
galvanized pipe. Prevent electrolytic corrosion/ deterioration of galvanized pipes and clogs Use 6 wraps teflon tape on threads Buy: Brass nipples at Amazon Brass elbows at Amazon |
| Low
water pressure can be caused by: 1) Sediment clog in pipe, water heater, or defective shut-off valve. 2) Crossover where bad single-handle faucet cartridge causes cold to enter hot pipe. Hot takes long time to arrive at faucet or never arrives. 3) Clogged faucet areators. Remove and clean areators with CLR calcium-lime-rust remover, or white vinegar, or replace areators. 4) Clogged water filter or water softener. Change filters regularly. Service water softener. 5) Leaking pipe, leaking TP valve, leaking water heater. Shut off all faucets. Inspect for leaks and listen for running water. 6) Broken water main, city water problem. Open outdoor spigot nearest main shut-off to see if pressure coming into house is low. Check if neighbors have same problem. Call city services. 7) Bad water well pump, waterlogged water well. Check pressure gauge on pump. Run water and see if pressure stablizes. Call well service. 8) Bad pressure regulating valve (only if valve is installed). Replace valve. 9) Bad check valve on recirculation sytem or elsewhere along plumbing. Look for check valve and replace or clean with CLR. |
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| If problem is located at one tap or all taps |
| If problem is located at one tap: Clean areator and check if problem solved. Clog will probably be located at low point in water line. Remove and replace shut off valve. While shut-off valve is removed. Use stout wire, electrical-wire-puller or drain auger to run into pipe down to next elbow, and then flush line. Hook air compressor to water line and push air into water line to help release clog. Flush line again. Read more and see image If problem continues, then pipe has to be traced back to next elbow, and that elbow removed and cleaned or replaced. If all hot taps have low pressure, then problem is usually at or near water heater. Clogs can be found inside the heat-trap nipples at water heater, or regular galvanived nipple, anywhere along the pipe, at elbow, tee, or valve. Cogs can also happen at check valve, or mixing valve, or pressure valve if these things are installed. How to save hot water using mixing valve Another place to check is connection where both copper and galvanized pipe join together. In case of copper and galvanized, the nearby galvanized pipe deteriorates and needs replacement. Test for location of clog Use BTG-100 pressure gauge on outdoor spigot nearest to main shut off to get baseline pressure for house. If pressure is over 80 psi, then install pressure reducing valve to avoid damage to pipes, plumbing and water heater. Have helper turn on hot and then cold water faucet inside house and watch for pressure drop for each hot and cold. Attach pressure gauge to water heater drain valve. Water heater drain valve must be open. Read: if water heater drain valve is blocked With pressure gauge on drain valve, open hot water faucets. You are looking for rapid fall in pressure. Rapid fall in pressure indicates that clog is between the test point and the incoming cold water tee. If pressure does not fall rapidly when hot faucet is turned on, the clog is after the test point. Disassemble pipes as needed. Inspect and replace pipes, valves and joints as needed. Move down the water line and continue inspection and replacement. |
| Other causes for low household water pressure | |
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Bad faucet cartridge. Read about Crossover Leaking TP valve, Leaking water heater Diagnose leaking water heater How far does hot water flow in 30 seconds Clogged sediment filter or water filter Clogged or manfunctioning water softerner On tankless unit, the water filter must be cleaned each month. Copper to galvanized fittings not protected with di-electric connections Old galvanized pipe |
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Rusty hot water Can indicate water heater is rusted out. Can indicate deteriorated galvanized pipes, which frequently clog at elbows and joints |
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Heat
trap inserts, washers, and nipples can clog
And make noise Manufacturers include heat-traps so their product appears to use less energy When installing water heater, remove manufacturer's heat traps. Read resource about heat traps Top image shows heat-trap washer. This specific washer is necessary to hold dip tube in place when installing di-electric nipples. To make this washer usable: Push washer over sharpie ink pen and cut off baffles so washer can be used without risk of clog. Bottom image shows heat trap nipples Buy: Camco dielectric heat trap nipples Dielectric nipples at Amazon |
 Heat trap washer |
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Remove
heat traps: Heat trap washer can be changed to high heat washer Water heaters with insert type dip tube might have heat trap washer Resource: Read about dip tubes |
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Hot
side nipple might be connected to anode rod Replace with combo anode rod without heat traps Cold side nipple might be connected to dip tube Replace with combo dip tube without heat traps Buy: Water heater dip tubes at Amazon Resources: How to remove short water heater nipple Read about dip tubes Read about anode rods |
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Install pex-lined
nipples Available home center water heater department Buy from my affiliate links: Dielectric nipples at Amazon Resource: How to remove short water heater nipple |
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How to remove
clogged nipple Use 5/8" carriage bolt so nipple will not collapse Remove by turning nipple counter-clockwise Resources Read more: How to replace short nipple |
 Larger image with details |
Make your own heat
traps Save $4-12 per year |
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Use
mega-flow water heater connectors Mega-flow connectors have larger inner diameter pipe to allow greater water flow Buy: Water heater connectors at Amazon |
| High water pressure over 80 PSI | |
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Pressure
over 80 psi can damage plumbing and water heater Can damage tank, cause leaks and shorten life of plumbing fixtures. Install expansion tank on incoming cold water line Buy: Expansion tanks at Amazon Resources: Leaking water heater |
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Pressure
reducing valve on cold water line Pressure reducing valve will solve high-pressure problem Buy: Pressure reducing valves Pressure regulating valves at Amazon |
 Larger image flow rate of 2 gpm through the water heater is a flow rate of 17.43 inches/second through a 3/4 inch ID pipe Read Test hot water volume /pdf |
Typical faucet
has 2 gpm (gallon per minute) Typical tub spout has 2-1/2 gpm Faucet can fill one gallon container in 30 seconds. 2gpm water flow= in 30 seconds hot water will travel a distance of 83' along 1/2 pipe. If single handle faucet is lifted in center, then equal amounts of hot and cold water will flow, so distance is 41' along each 1/2 pipe. If single-handle faucet has bad cartridge, hot water or cold water can be slow to arrive: Crossover |
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Resource: Compare box timers DPDT timers Intermatic Control water heater w/ Z-wave |
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Resource: Intermatic control centers: and parts Digital control centers and parts Tork control centers and parts Subpanels All control centers and parts Enclosures |
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Resource: Programmable timers Countdown timers Off delay timers On delay timers Timer modules Din rail Twin & one-shot Woods Intermatic Tork |
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Recirculation systems |
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