Yes, a tankless water heater can cause low water pressure. If you’ve just had your tankless water heater installed and you’ve noticed a drop in pressure, the culprit is quite obvious. But, your tankless water heater may also cause your water pressure to slow down after a few years of use. Here are the ways your tankless water heater can cause low pressure and what you can do about it.
1. The Shut-Off Valve
All tankless water heaters have a valve to shut off the flow of water. As with other water-based appliances, this valve is for safety and intended to be used when there is a problem with the heater, like a leak. However, sometimes during installation or maintenance, your plumber may leave the valve slightly closed. Or, you or a child or pet may have jostled it closed.
When the valve is even partly closed, not enough water gets into the heater. This results in lowered water pressure for you. The solution is simply to head to the tankless water heater and open the valve up all the way. If you’re not sure how to locate it, a plumber can do this for you.
2. Sediment Build-Up
Tankless water heaters have fine mesh screens that protect the machine from sediment build-up. Except, the sediment can build up on the screen itself. In this case, It can partly block off the lines, creating a reduction in water and water pressure. A plumber can fix this simply by removing, cleaning and replacing the filter.
If you get sediment build-up quickly, it is likely that you have harder than average water or water with more minerals in it than average. This can impact other appliances, your faucet aerators and even your dishes. If you’re struggling with these issues, you can install a whole-home water softener to remove the minerals before the water reaches your tankless water heater or other appliances or faucets.
3. High Demand
Tankless water heaters produce hot water for as long as you want, but they only produce so much. How much they produce is measured in GPM, or gallons per minute. When you use your shower, for example, you likely use several gallons of hot water per minute. If you add in a faucet and a dishwasher at the same time, you may be trying to use more GPM than your tankless water heater can produce. You may end up with colder water, or it may feel like you have lowered water pressure.
The solution is to choose a tankless water heater that is the right size for your home and your uses. A plumber can help you more accurately gauge what size you need.
Other Water Pressure Issues
Your tankless water heater is far from the only thing that could lower your water pressure. There are valves in your home that could impact your water pressure, you may have a pressure regulator that is malfunctioning, or some appliance or part of a faucet may be causing the problem. It is smart to reach out to a plumber to discover the root cause of your issues. If you’re looking for a plumber in Tracy that can help, you’re already in the right place. We’re also happy to help in Discovery Bay, Mountain House, and more.
