Water heater low pressure

[franklin2]

The bladder in your expansion tank may torn or separated, causing a partial blockage of the cold water into the heater.

Easy way to check that is poke the shrader valve on the tank. If water comes out, it's no good. I think those expansion tanks come pre-charged around 30 psi?

 

[2drxploder]

i would check for over-use of thread sealant, it can cause a blockage: slow water and/or not allow it to reach expansion tank during heating cycle. maybe an old valve in-line not open all the way? thermal expansion is a real thing, when you have a closed water system ( most city water applications) it is required to have an expansion tank on cold side of water heater, also it will drip out of t&p valve when not present. over-soldered copper fittings, crimped/damaged pex, sediment in piping, can all do the same thing. gas tank water heaters are suppose to have a minimum of 18" of copper going to and coming from the water heater. how the pressure if you hook garden hose to water heater drain? or remove outlet(hot side) near water heater before it goes to any fixtures? can also remove inlet side and check pressure there. based on experience you probably have a build up of teflon at either the cold or hot heat stop nipple attached to water heater (probably cold side). teflon tape only works one-way, wrap it in the direction of thread like your tightening ONLY! hope this helps, if not post a pic up.

 

[Shran]

Fingers crossed but I think I fixed it. Kids were gone this weekend and wife went on a girls trip so I had less need of hot water. Ran into two problems, 1st was the pressure tank, it had no air left in the bladder and was full of water. Replaced that. While I had the water drained I pulled the hot line off the water heater and found that the union right out of it was totally plugged up. I'm actually shocked that I had any hot water pressure at all. Hopefully fixing those two things will get me back in business!

 

[Shran]

It's fixed, I don't think I've ever had this much water pressure. My nips are still raw from the pressure washer shower head this morning!

 

[RobbieD]

It's fixed, I don't think I've ever had this much water pressure. My nips are still raw from the pressure washer shower head this morning!

A picture, or it didn't happen.










On second thought, please don't.

Congratulations on getting it fixed!