Water pressure in kitchen decreases, and only 10-15 minutes of hot water in shower before going lukewarm

[OurFreeSociety]

Hi all,

I hope someone can help me please & yes it's been an ongoing saga hence the details. LOL

I'm in Mexico right now & no one here knows what they are doing. Even locals say that.

Anyway, this rental I moved into has had NOTHING but plumbing problems, so cosmetically it looks nice & large, but everything else is crap.

It took months for me to get the landlord to bring in a professional (if you want to call him that) plumber to fix the water leaks in the toilet & sinks & two of them even caused new leaks. I paid full price & never got the 3 functioning bathrooms until after 3+ months.

Then the pilot for the hot water heater outside kept going out because of the heavy winds. Finally a neighbor recommended his plumber friend. Turns out he's NOT a real plumber, they all have handymen come here pretending to be electricians & plumbers.

He replaced the thermostat (I assume it was that) & the button you press to ignite the pilot.

All was fine.

Then I started to get rocks in the water scratching my face. He spoke to them & they agreed to let him clean out the hot water tank & the water tank on the roof. There were TONS of hard white rocks (I have pics & videos in the folder below)

Then 1-2 weeks later something happened with the water pressure so he came back & cleaned out the kitchen faucet & shower head upstairs with all of the same white guck.

2-3 weeks after that I started to complain to him that something was worse with the water pressure. I would turn on the hot water in kitchen sink & within 1-2 minutes, the pressure would decrease. Video in folder.

Also I was able to wash the dishes with NO cold water on. Clearly that means the hot water wasn't as hot & I checked the dial & it was almost at 100% which it's never been before so it's on very hot.

They all wash their dishes in cold water here, so me using hot water is foreign to them & they didn't understand me.

I also told him the hot water for the shower was now luke warm after a while. I didn't time it, but it's after 5-15 minutes & I take long hot showers & I moved in November 28th 2023 & never had a problem until he cleaned out the boiler & water tank on the roof & cleaned out the guck in the kitchen faucet & shower head.

They don't listen here, so when he came during the day when it was hot with sun outside, he's like SEEEE, there is hot water as IF I was crazy. All he did was turn it on in both the kitchen sink & shower & try to prove that I'm lying. I wasn't happy.

He ignored me about the water pressure issue.

THEN 2+ weeks after that I had NO WATER and I thought it was something he did.

I opened up the sliding door & the hot water tank had fallen on the ground & it was trashed. It had to be replaced. I know, don't say it LOL

I had HOPED this would fix the hot water issues, but it didn't. It fixed the kitchen hot water, I always have to turn on the cold now, but the pressure decreasing after I turn it on is still an issue, & the shower turning lukewarm after 10-15 mins. still means I'm taking cold showers.

And yes the pilot is on.

Please tell me you know what's wrong with both issues. I'm really upset because I even brought in that first so called plumber who finally fixed all the leaks, & he did nothing but look at the boiler (pics in folder) & turn on the hot water. sigh

Even the pressure upstairs in my ensuite is low, but it's always been low even before all of this. They say it's normal not to have good pressure upstairs, but the other hallway bathroom where the shower is does get fairly good pressure. It just takes forever for the water to get hot, at least 5-10 mins. SMH

It's obviously not the hot water tank because I've gone thru 2 of them now.

To recap, even after he replaced the switch/button & temperature dial on the old rusted boiler, all was fine until it started to get cooler outside, but last year it would get colder & I still had long hot showers.

In 3rd world countries they don't insulate their pipes which is why I'm mentioning this.

This area does get tons of white guck which I assume is minerals and or stones.

Another forum that didn't help me in the end said he thinks the stones got lodged in the pipes & while that made sense initally, if that was the case, why would I get any hot water at all? And why do I get hot water in the kitchen?

Now I don't wash dishes for 30-45 mins., 10-15 mins. max, but there's still appears to be plenty of hot water & yes, the boiler is right outside the kitchen back door.

With the water pressure in the kitchen I could see that happening, but if I turn on the water all the way blasting which I never do, the water pressure doesn't decrease & no, I haven't changed how I turn on the water in the kitchen. It's always the same approximate turn of the hot water first, then eventually the cold.

Even in the powder room (main floor) there's a difference from before.

I always got plenty of hot water when the faucet handle was pointing to the middle of the sink, but now it's lukewarm at best & I have to turn it more to the far left to get really hot water.

Maybe the water pressure moved some rocks into the pipes? But again, how does that affect the hot water issues?

https://workdrive.zohoexternal.com/...6b87168b6c04ceb7b89386fbe0348bef56b319aa0b8b3

Thanks a ton for any help you can give me.

 

[dilalio]

Move somewhere where they have proper plumbers, plumbing and installations.

Or get a plumber from here to fly out there and fix it.

I Know that's not much help to you but I know loads of people who have homes abroad and have sent their own tradesmen out there on a "working holiday" to Spain, France, Portugal, Italy etc... Mexico is a bit of a stretch though!

 

[UpgradeME]

Some observations…

- it looks like the boiler gas pipe is severely kinked at the top, which would restrict its ability to operate correctly / heat water.
- it’s likely that after 15mins in the shower, you have used all the available hot water in the tank, the above restriction will likely slow down the reheating of water so your shower will run cold due to both circumstances.
- the ‘white rocks’ look to be limescale, do you get a lot in your kettle too?
- likely that limescale is a contributing factor to your kitchen sink issues

Fixing the gas pipe would be my first priority, then identify ways to reduce the limescale.

 

[OurFreeSociety]

Some observations…

- it looks like the boiler gas pipe is severely kinked at the top, which would restrict its ability to operate correctly / heat water.
- it’s likely that after 15mins in the shower, you have used all the available hot water in the tank, the above restriction will likely slow down the reheating of water so your shower will run cold due to both circumstances.
- the ‘white rocks’ look to be limescale, do you get a lot in your kettle too?
- likely that limescale is a contributing factor to your kitchen sink issues

Fixing the gas pipe would be my first priority, then identify ways to reduce the limescale.

I have to go look outside to see if that's a pic before he cleaned the boiler & tank on the roof or it looks like that now. Thanks

If I was only supposed to get 15 mins. of hot water, this would have been a thing the entire time, but it wasn't, & the new boiler size is the same. I made sure they would buy the same size. I think they said 600 L

Also even after he cleaned it, it took several weeks before this started to be an issue, it wasn't instantaneous. I never wrote down the dates he came & what he did. I tried to look back on WhatsApp & couldn't find when he came to clean the faucet & shower head which honestly I can't remember if it was after that or after he cleaned the boiler that the hot water issues started. I do know for sure it was:

1. Change temp gauge & button
2. I started to get stones in the water so he came & cleaned the tank & boiler
3. Came & found limescale in the kitchen faucet & shower head & cleaned those.
4. Replaced fallen boiler

Also remember this isn't just about the shower, even in the powder room I used to get very hot water with the handle pointed in the center, now I don't.

White rocks - I don't use a kettle, I use a pot to boil my water. I have not noticed it in any of my pots & pans or glass pitchers, but I do use a water struturer so the water (not tap) is being poured through that.

But yesterday I went to try & put on a sprayer faucet on the kitchen sink (it won't fit, there needs to be a extra piece attached to it I think - sigh) & for some reason, the way I re-screwed the other one back on, I can now see white stuff on the side of it. I never saw that before, maybe it was on the other side.

I don't know if that's white paint from when he touched it, or it's that limescale.

I think the kitchen sink water pressure & hot water issues started at the same time which was after he cleaned the boiler, because I complained about something with the water pressure & that's when he came & cleaned the faucet & shower head. He never did anything to fix the hot water issues. He just got a bucket, filled it up with hot water from my shower, said SEEE, you have hot water & refused to do anything else.

Thanks

 

[OurFreeSociety]

Move somewhere where they have proper plumbers, plumbing and installations.

Or get a plumber from here to fly out there and fix it.

I Know that's not much help to you but I know loads of people who have homes abroad and have sent their own tradesmen out there on a "working holiday" to Spain, France, Portugal, Italy etc... Mexico is a bit of a stretch though!

You and the people you know are obviously way richer than I am.

If you give me the money, I'll fly someone from the US out to where I am.

LMK when you want my banking details.

 

[RrogerD]

Frustrating as it is and I can see that, I think I would be pretty miffed as well, you have to accept that you are projecting your world life within another world. It just ain't gonna happen.
I suggest, move to a western-style hotel, one that has been built and is maintained by westerners / 1st world people. Yes, you'll pay a premium but this way you will get what you desire.
It's like going to Iceland and moaning that it's too cold or the Sahara and moaning that it's too hot.
Live as the locals do and everything will be pukka.

 

[OurFreeSociety]

Frustrating as it is and I can see that, I think I would be pretty miffed as well, you have to accept that you are projecting your world life within another world. It just ain't gonna happen.
I suggest, move to a western-style hotel, one that has been built and is maintained by westerners / 1st world people. Yes, you'll pay a premium but this way you will get what you desire.
It's like going to Iceland and moaning that it's too cold or the Sahara and moaning that it's too hot.
Live as the locals do and everything will be pukka.

LOL, no I'm not going to live like the locals & take a cold shower, but you can if you want. And who says that ALL locals take cold showers? This isn't Panama, it's Mexico & I don't live in a hot area.

SMH you have clearly been an expat before.

And this has nothing to do with being in a 3rd world country. The last house I was in worked fine and so was this before they screwed things up.

You can go live in an expensive hotel LOL just amazing how you talk.

Please don't comment again unless you have something to contribute as to what you think the problem may be. I didn't come onto this forum to be told to spend tons of money I don't have to find another house which I can't find anyway, or move to an expensive hotel with no rooms, etc.

 

[dilalio]

I didn't come onto this forum to be told to spend tons of money

No, I'm sure you didn't.
Trouble is, we, over here mostly UK residents and plumbers, have enough to try and contend with, with the myriad of unique Plumbing installations in the UK.

It would be impossible to know what the setup is, in general, in Mexico, let alone your individual property!

Having read through your descriptions, I would only be able to advise that your mains supply is contaminated.
I don't know if it's limescale - is this a problem in the area where you live? Or is it unique to you?
How is your water supplied? From a well?
Until you get that sorted with some kind of incoming filter or screen on the pump (if well-fed) then you will continue to have issues with blockages.
And also the kinked gas supply needs to be sorted.

 

[OurFreeSociety]

No, I'm sure you didn't.
Trouble is, we, over here mostly UK residents and plumbers, have enough to try and contend with, with the myriad of unique Plumbing installations in the UK.

It would be impossible to know what the setup is, in general, in Mexico, let alone your individual property!

Having read through your descriptions, I would only be able to advise that your mains supply is contaminated.
I don't know if it's limescale - is this a problem in the area where you live? Or is it unique to you?
How is your water supplied? From a well?
Until you get that sorted with some kind of incoming filter or screen on the pump (if well-fed) then you will continue to have issues with blockages.
And also the kinked gas supply needs to be sorted.

If you guys can't help because you are too busy in the UK, I understand, I'll just try another forum. I thought this was a forum to ask questions for help. My VA got this for me & I didn't know you were in the UK until I started seeing UK flags. I won't find a forum in Mx, I can tell you that much LOL

The limescale was already cleaned out of the boiler (old one) & the tank on the roof. Whether some got pushed into the pipes from the same guy who probably did the crimp I don't know. I should have known they would screw things up here. sigh I never even thought it was him, but now I'm pretty sure he's caused all of this when he cleaned the tanks out. He wasn't careful.

The water is from the city I'm sure, this is a middle class complex. I'm not out in the country.

I'll see if they will have the line crimp fixed after the new year, but I still don't think it's that b/c if it was that, I wouldn't be getting any hot water for the first 10-15 mins., right? Unless it's using what's in the tank & it can't heat up new water for the rest of my shower fast enough when maybe before it did heat it up fast? Is that how the boiler works? It drains the hot water & then right away starts trying to reheat new cold water?

But the water pressure in the kitchen sink is still a problem & I think it's getting worse. Now I think the cold water is not coming out strong either. SMH. Just nuts.

That's a totally separate issue, right? How could that have screwed up at the same time as the hot water issues? That makes no sense. I'm still getting a lot of water pressure in the shower, just not the hot water after the 10-15 mins. Maybe even less sometimes now.

Thanks for your help.

 

[UpgradeME]

Yes, the boiler will heat the water as it drains and new, cold water enters the tank. If the gas is restricted, it cannot put enough heat in.

Googling Mexico, it sounds like there are lots of water issues, as mentioned above, and after googling, I too suspect the water supply has a high degree of contamination which is causing the white buildups inside your system.

Reverse osmosis filtering was a suggested method to clean a supply in MX elsewhere, that may apply to you too!?

Try to find a local expert who knows what the problem is in the area. They can then direct you to possible solutions.

At the moment, even if you replaced the entire internal plumbing, it’s very likely that the same thing would happen again, if no filtering was introduced.

 

[UpgradeME]

My VA got this for me

I’m curious, what / who is a VA?

 

[RrogerD]

I’m curious, what / who is a VA?

what is a VA - Google Search

 

[DP]

Pressure issue possible blockage of mains supply. Assume you have 10 bar mains supply pressure when there is no flow. Initially water will be delivered at high pressure until the blockage in the plumbing destroys the mains pressure so you have a trickle coming through

Crimped pipe ( like a hose that is doubled up) will cause similar problem

The white stuff you talk about, may well be blocking the faucets or gauze filters and shower sprays