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CaptainTruth

(7,308 posts)
7. Professional contractor, I've been doing plumbing for decades, one easy troubleshooting trick is...
Tue Apr 30, 2019, 05:20 PM
Apr 2019

Turn off both shutoff valves.

Swap the supply lines. (Disconnect both lines & connect each one to the OTHER shutoff valve.)

Turn on shutoff valves, & check flow by turning on the faucet valves.

If Hot (faucet valve) still has low flow, the Hot faucet valve is clogged.

If Cold (faucet valve) now has low flow, the Hot shutoff valve is clogged.

Remember, supply line connections have big rubber washers, so do NOT tighten them like you would a pipe fitting. Be gentle. You can always tighten a bit more if you turn on the shutoff & see a drip.

One of my customers had this exact problem not long ago. Turned out the hot shutoff valve was clogged, just in one bathroom. Hot water heaters have plastic "dip tubes" in them & the dip tubes had started disintegrating. Little pieces of plastic made it through the hot water pipes & piled up inside the hot shutoff valve, clogging it up. I told them to keep an eye on their hot water heater because if the dip tubes were disintegrating it was close to the end of its life. Sure enough, about 2 months later I was back installing a new water heater because it had started dripping on their garage floor.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Try removing and cleaning the hot water faucet valve at the faucet handle. LuvLoogie Apr 2019 #1
Had a similar problem, but with our kitchen sink DonaldsRump Apr 2019 #2
Turn your hot water off under the sink first. LiberalArkie Apr 2019 #3
I believe the advice given is fairly good Sherman A1 Apr 2019 #4
A couple things to check FBaggins Apr 2019 #5
Personally I would call a plumber. PoindexterOglethorpe Apr 2019 #6
This is basic homeowner 101 stuff. Hassin Bin Sober May 2019 #8
What is a GFCI reset? PoindexterOglethorpe May 2019 #9
The ground fault receptacle in your bath or kitchen Hassin Bin Sober May 2019 #10
Please forgive my profound ignorance, PoindexterOglethorpe May 2019 #11
It looks like this Hassin Bin Sober May 2019 #12
Thank you for both the explanation and the pictures! PoindexterOglethorpe May 2019 #13
There is a good chance one bathroom outlet protects the other bathroom outlet. Hassin Bin Sober May 2019 #14
Thank you again! PoindexterOglethorpe May 2019 #15
You are welcome! Hassin Bin Sober May 2019 #16
I don't suppose you live in my city and can come over to show me these things? PoindexterOglethorpe May 2019 #17
I'm in Chicago. Hassin Bin Sober May 2019 #18
Sigh. PoindexterOglethorpe May 2019 #19
Professional contractor, I've been doing plumbing for decades, one easy troubleshooting trick is... CaptainTruth Apr 2019 #7
We had a similar problem Marthe48 May 2019 #20
Latest Discussions»Culture Forums»DIY & Home Improvement»I Don't Have Any Hot Wate...»Reply #7