Hot Water Tank Lost Pressure

[chubbard16]

After the installation of a new water tank, the water pressure became erratic and weak. At times, it is as if there is air in the pipes at the sink faucets; at times the water pressure is simply weak; whenever more than one water source is used, the pressure is almost depleted.

Is it possible to correct this on/in the water tank itself? Is it a valve on the tank? Right after installation, there was water leaking from a valve on the side of the tank. I tightened the valve and the leakage stopped. Would this have anything to do with lost pressure?

Thanks for your help.

Ladyrev

[jim]

Is the pressure drop through out the house or just one tap was the installer licensed or a freind who has done this many times suggest you drain the tank remember to turn flame off or power drain refill make sure it is full when you turn it back on . Also make sure it is hooked up right wouldn;t be the first I have found with cold to hot and hot to cold . Something is plumbed wrong as tanks do nothing to pressure 35 yrs plumbing has told me that.

[jim]

Also check if the fill valve is open all the way and if an older home you might need to check you pipes if galvanized how is the cold pressure is the water hot when you get it

[David L. Martel]

Lady,

This is confusing, you mention a hot water tank (water heater?) without explaining what it is. If you are on a well you may have a water tank which, if not working correctly, could cause these problems. This tank is not a "hot water" tank. Often this tank will have a bladder full of air and if the bladder is not properly pressurized with air it will do what you describe. I call this tank the storage tank. A trickle of water from a drain valve or faucet or toilet might cause this problem. You say that you stopped the trickle so I doubt that's the problem

Dave M.

[Harry K]

Errmmm...an improperly pre-charged tank will not cause those problems. All it does is change the cycle time of the pump. Pressure on/off does not change.

As for the OP's problem. I the problem is both the hot and cold, the house system may have been shut off to change out the tank. Probably the first time that valve had been operated since installation. I suspect some crud broke loose and is blocking flow somewhere.

Other possible, shut off valve not fully open.

I come down on the 'blocked pipe' as most probable.

Harry K

[EXT]

Your description is rather vague, you don't say where the valve was tightened. If it was the cold water inlet valve, and if it is a standard compression valve and if it was leaking around the stem, tightening the nut on the stem may have turned the stem (it has happened to me) and slightly closing the valve, reducing the water supply to the tank and therefore the water out of the tank.

Help is all in the details which you have not supplied, anything else is a guess as we cannot see your installation, such as what I describe above. You should probably call the installer to fix the problem as he/they seem to have caused it.

[bonehead44]

Why didn't you just connect to the city hot water supply? Hot water heaters are obsolete these days. Most modern homes have both a cold and a hot pipe entering the house from the street. It costs a few bucks more to get your hot water from the city, but you dont have all the plumbing problems anymore. The hot water pipe should be right next to your water meter and be painted red.