We have a rental gas hot water heater. The pressure for all our hot water taps dropped suddenly after a toilet was flushed on the same basement level as the hit water heater. The repairman hit the cold water inlet pipe to the hw heater ( with a hammer)to fix. Was ok for awhile, but problem reiccurs when using washer or toilet on same level. We hear a bang just before hot water pressure drops by 80 percent.

Now my husband is banging on the inlet pipe which works on the second or third hit ( not real hard) to fix the problem which occurs at least once or twice a week.

The hot water heater is about 14 yrs old, but was boxed in by previous owner such that switching it would be a pain unless we get an on demand type and leave the old heater in place.

After reading this site i wonder if there is an easier/ better solution such as getting our own plumber to make a simple repair?

Can this be fixed????? Thanks!

if you can fix it from outside the pipe, you can fix it from inside the pipe.

have to take it apart and clean/clear the obstruction.

Thanks very much. Makes sense.



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Are you banging on a check valve or something to get it going? I'm trying to figure out what banging the pipe would do. Sometimes banging on a stuck check valve will free it up.



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