I wrote the other day about low pressure in the shower upstairs. The pressure is still real low and now the kitchen sink hot water pressure has gotten lower than normal. What could that possibly be . Should I just call a plumber? Help me please

 

If this problem keeps moving, then I guess you'll have to start from square one. Drain and flush the water heater. If you do not know how to do this, post back for instructions. Good luck.

 

I dont know how to do it, please advise. Also, hope this isnt a dumb question, but what will this do?

 

Here is a link with instructions to drain and also flush the water heater. Draining and flushing are both preventive maintenance for your water heater and should be done at least every year.

It appears that there may be something in your tank that is causing your problem. Watch the hose when you drain the tank to see what is breaking loose and restricting your flow of hot water. This could just be years of mineral deposits that commonly occur in water heaters or it may be that something is breaking ( dip tube, annode rod) inside your water heater.
You can put a sock on the end of the garden hose to catch debris. You can then see what you are dealing with.
If the warer heater will not drain post back and we will walk you through the steps of freeing the obstruction.

Water heater drain and flush link.

http://forum.doityourself.com/showthread.php?t=134483


Good luck and post back

 

Is there some sort of filter or strainer in the hot water heater or anywhere along the water lines? I took off a few aerators and noticed alot of little white particles. Coul this be clogging up a line somewhere?

 

There is no filter in or around the water heater, the clog is between the heater and said fixture, you have to do a process of elimination, start at the fixture and work back.

 

As Plumber2000 stated there is no or shouldn't be any filter or strainer in or around the water heater. The white particles most likely are in the hot water tank and flowing to the fixtures during use as the hot water is the only one affected. Draining and flushing the water heater will eliminate the particles so that if need be the fixtures can then be flushed clear. If you just flush the fixtures and the particles are still present in the tank your problem will keep occuring.

 

this might all sound dumb, but exactly what do i do at each source and how?

 

Do you know how to take things apart and put things back together, this is what you need to do to solve this problem, get a book on plumbing repairs, it will give you the basics, not being rude here, it's just where not there to see what you have.

 

To flush the water heater follow the directions in the link provided above.

Take the areator off the faucet closest to the water heater. Run the hot water for a minute. Do you have full pressure at this faucet? If pressure is full proceed to the next faucet and repeat the process.

If you do not have full pressure at the faucet. Look under the fixture and locate the hot water supply valve. Should be on the left hand side but the lines may be crossed. If in doubt run the hot water for a minute or so and feel the lines. The hot supply will be hot. Have a rag or 2 handy and a bucket.Turn the hot water valve off. Disconnect the hot water supply line. Hold a rag over the valve and turn the hot water on and off quickly. Do this 2 or 3 times. Place the disconnected hot water supply line in the bucket and turn the COLD water on. Some faucets will allow the cold water to flush out the hot water line. Let the cold water run for a few seconds if water comes out. Reconnect the hot water supply line. Do not turn the water back on to this faucet just yet. All the faucets need to be flushed the same way before you turn any of them back on to check the flow.

I realize this seems like a lot of work but it is the ONLY way you will flush out all of your lines.
If the water flow improves but then a few days or weeks later becomes restricted again you will need to flush the tank and then do all of this again.

Good luck on your project.