Water Heaters - water pressure
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double dee
04-04-06, 06:31 PM
Not sure if this is relate to the hot water heater. But here we go...
My house was built in 1999 and I have lived in it for the last 3 years. It has just started over the last couple of weeks but the water pressure has gone down significately. I can only have 1 house-hold item running at a time. For example, if I am doing laundry and then try to turn on the sink, the faucet only trickles.
Any suggestions to where I can investigate. Thanks in advance for the suggestions.
Doug
My house was built in 1999 and I have lived in it for the last 3 years. It has just started over the last couple of weeks but the water pressure has gone down significately. I can only have 1 house-hold item running at a time. For example, if I am doing laundry and then try to turn on the sink, the faucet only trickles.
Any suggestions to where I can investigate. Thanks in advance for the suggestions.
Doug
Keesha
04-04-06, 06:52 PM
Are you on a well or City water? If your on a well then it most likely is the filter.
double dee
04-04-06, 08:16 PM
City water. I talked to the neighbors and they told me that they don't have any issues with their water pressure.
DUNBAR PLUMBER
04-04-06, 11:53 PM
Sounds like a isolation valve is clogged or something has been turned off and not turned back on.
double dee
04-05-06, 06:29 AM
What is an isolation valve? Nothing has been turned off.
DUNBAR PLUMBER
04-05-06, 02:25 PM
Isolation valve > Isolate > Main shutoff, water heater cold inlet valve, shutoffs under the sink, boiler drains to washing machines, shutoff for a toilet.
If nothing has been turned off then possibly debri is clogging up a valve leading to the affected fixtures could be to blame. It could also be that the meter valve in the crock may not be fully open.
If nothing has been turned off then possibly debri is clogging up a valve leading to the affected fixtures could be to blame. It could also be that the meter valve in the crock may not be fully open.
furd
04-05-06, 04:54 PM
What you have described is a flow problem and not a pressure problem. People often confuse the two.
Since you are on city water there is a chance that you have a pressure reducing valve, or PRV installed in the main water service to your home. This device lowers (reduces) the pressure of the city water main to a more reasonable pressure inside your home. They are installed in areas where the city water pressure exceeds 80 psi pressure.
If you have a PRV it could be installed anywhere between your water meter and your house. Usually they are installed immediately after the main shut-off valve in the house. This may be in your garage or utility space where your water heater is installed.
PRV's have an inlet strainer that could become partially plugged with sediment in the city water. PRV's may also "stick" in a partially opened position, what you describe is a classic symptom of a stuck PRV. Sometimes a PRV can be taken apart and cleaned. Do not attempt this without further instructions.
If you do a Google Images search using the term pressure reducing valve you can see several images of what they look like.
If you find a PRV on your water system please post back and I will give you some info.
Since you are on city water there is a chance that you have a pressure reducing valve, or PRV installed in the main water service to your home. This device lowers (reduces) the pressure of the city water main to a more reasonable pressure inside your home. They are installed in areas where the city water pressure exceeds 80 psi pressure.
If you have a PRV it could be installed anywhere between your water meter and your house. Usually they are installed immediately after the main shut-off valve in the house. This may be in your garage or utility space where your water heater is installed.
PRV's have an inlet strainer that could become partially plugged with sediment in the city water. PRV's may also "stick" in a partially opened position, what you describe is a classic symptom of a stuck PRV. Sometimes a PRV can be taken apart and cleaned. Do not attempt this without further instructions.
If you do a Google Images search using the term pressure reducing valve you can see several images of what they look like.
If you find a PRV on your water system please post back and I will give you some info.