If you turn on your tap and discover something's not quite right with your hot water pressure, you'll likely be worried that your system is going to need costly repairs. Some problems that impact hot water pressure can be significant, particularly if the problem impacts the hot water pressure throughout your home rather than one area of your home. However, there are also several small problems that can lead to low hot water pressure and can be fixed pretty quickly by your plumber. Here's an overview of a few common causes of low hot water pressure:

Clogged Pipes Or Taps

Regardless of whether you have an electric or gas hot water system, the tank interior can corrode and sediment can be drawn into the hot water pipes over time, which can cause a blockage in the pipes. Clogged pipes and taps can also occur due to a build-up of scale if you live in a hard water area. Clogs in the pipes and taps can often be fixed by flushing the system to remove sediment, but if your hot water system is very old, you may need to have it replaced to stop more sediment from building up due to corrosion in the tank.

Bent Supply Lines

Some hot water systems, particularly older models, have copper piping in the tanks that is shaped like an accordion. The shape of this piping makes it quite weak and susceptible to bending, which can impair water pressure. It's also possible for plumbing lines from the tank to the taps to become bent due to unregulated flow of water to you taps. This issue can be resolved by replacing any bent supply lines, and your plumber may also recommend installing a pressure regulator, which can prevent further bending by controlling the flow of water from the system to your taps and preventing too much pressure being put on the supply lines when taps are turned on to maximum capacity.

Faulty Pressure Regulator

If you already have a pressure regulator installed, it could be faulty. The pressure regulator could be preventing adequate pressure travelling through your system and may need to be tuned to reinstate normal hot water pressure. If tuning the regulator does not solve the issue, it may need to be replaced.

These are just a few reasons your hot water pressure can dip, but these issues are easy for a plumber to diagnose and fix. So, if you notice your hot water pressure is low, give your local hot water plumber a call and ask them to have a look over your system.