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Gringal

Jul 15, 2007, 9:54 AM

Post #1 of 12 (3570 views)

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Water pressure problem

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I did the search, but didn't find an answer specific to our problem.

We had a new water system installed in our old house, located downtown with connection to the city water. The contractor put in a new tinaco, a new aljibe, new pipes and a large pressure pump.

Here's the problem, and the contractor and the plumber don't seem to know the solution. Worse yet, it is intermittent so of course, we can't get it to act up when the plumber is there. Well, once.

Description: Fiddle with hot/cold knobs until the water reaches desired temperature. Step into shower. All is well for a few minutes, at which juncture the hot water disappears, leaving the standee under a cold water stream. Attempt to bring up hot water to desired temperature by normal methods is futile. Much fiddling with controls, at which time the cold water pressure may drop, leaving standee scalded. Well, you get the idea.

Anybody else with this problem, and any solutions? Showering is not a pleasure at present.

Rolly / Moderator

Jul 16, 2007, 3:36 AM

Post #2 of 12 (3532 views)

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Re: [Gringal] Water pressure problem

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I talked with my plumber friend and told him about your problem. He said he did not know the source of your problem, but he suggested that you start by opening both the hot and the cold valves to be sure the washers are in good condition and that there is nothing out of place.

Rolly Pirate

Gringal

Jul 16, 2007, 7:39 AM

Post #3 of 12 (3524 views)

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Re: [Rolly] Water pressure problem

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Thanks. I think the problem is more complicated, though. I happens on all three showers and the bathtub, too.
The plumber even replaced the pipe connections, where the mixing is, and it turned out there was nothing wrong with the unit. All the plumbing is new, from on end to the other. Sigh.

Rolly / Moderator

Jul 16, 2007, 7:55 AM

Post #4 of 12 (3521 views)

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Re: [Gringal] Water pressure problem

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Have you considered that a poltergeist has moved in with you? Smile

Rolly

(This post was edited by Rolly on Jul 16, 2007, 7:55 AM)

Gringal

Jul 16, 2007, 2:39 PM

Post #5 of 12 (3493 views)

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Re: [Rolly] Water pressure problem

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That's what our very frustrated plumber said. Wooooo woooo.
Ya think we need an exorcism?

Judy in Ags

Jul 19, 2007, 9:01 PM

Post #6 of 12 (3450 views)

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Re: [Gringal] Water pressure problem

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We had a problem when we first installed our pressure pump (I don't remember all the symptoms). After the master plumber came out and made an adjustment to the pressure pump, we were fine. I'll ask hubbie tomorrow if he remembers the details.

I hope you get it straightened out soon. That sounds very frustrating.

Rolly / Moderator

Jul 26, 2007, 7:49 PM

Post #7 of 12 (3391 views)

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Re: [Gringal] Water pressure problem

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Gringal, did you get your problem fixed?

Rolly Pirate

Gringal

Jul 27, 2007, 1:26 PM

Post #8 of 12 (3362 views)

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Re: [Rolly] Water pressure problem

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Nope. Same excitement at the shower. Someone PM'd me and suggested it might need an air gap. Mentioned this to the contractor who handled the plumbing.
"Huh". "We don't put those in here." said he.

I couldn't get the local Padre to do the exorcism either.

Plan B is now in operation.

Karin

Jul 27, 2007, 2:11 PM

Post #9 of 12 (3357 views)

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Re: [Gringal] Water pressure problem

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We had a similar mysterious problem some years ago.
The flow of warm water from the tinaco through a solar panel stopped at irregular intervals.
The problem was solved by "venting" the pipe on the roof. The warm water never stopped since.

Judy in Ags

Jul 27, 2007, 8:19 PM

Post #10 of 12 (3335 views)

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Re: [Judy in Ags] Water pressure problem

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'Sorry I didn't get back to you earlier. I did ask hubbie, but our early problems with our pressure pump did not create the same symptoms as you have, so I guess I wouldn't be much help. 'Sorry. I hope by now you're fixed up.

Gringal

Oct 1, 2007, 8:39 AM

Post #11 of 12 (3223 views)

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Re: [Gringal] Water pressure problem

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For curious minds: The water pressure problem is about to be solved. We got a new contractor for some additional work on the house. To say we were disappointed with the old one would be an understatement, but he had come highly recommended. We had some drippy faucets and a leaky toilet. The old contractor gave a warranty for a year, so we called him, but after two weeks of non-response, we decided that the aggravation level was in excess of saving the money and asked the new guy to do the work. We also told him about the problems described before.
He said, in effect, that the answer was "air gaps", which he will shortly install. Apparently some plumbers never heard of them; some have.

garrycouch

Nov 3, 2007, 9:13 AM

Post #12 of 12 (3141 views)

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Re: [Gringal] Water pressure problem

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When we moved into this house, we have found that we have a similar problem, i.e., every 4-5 weeks we suddenly get lukewarm
water in showers, kitchen, etc. We do not have a pressure pump, just the tanks on the roof. We installed a new water heater....
no change. After three different plumbers, one finally decided that we needed check valves on both the hot and cold water pipes
on the new water heater. We have stand pipes all over the place. No change, although we have discovered that if we COMPLETELY
drain the roof tanks and all the lines, then refill... things operate as they should for another4-5 weeks. Son-in-law in the U.S. builds
big homes and he asked his chief plumber who suspected air gaps but that the fix is dependent on many possible conditions. Most
of which we have tried.