Shower faucet help needed - humming/vibration

[Sveedy]

Pertinent info. A house that old most likely came with galvanized pipes which are known for closing up and causing clogs as they age. Of course you probably know that already. But a lot of times when people re-plumb the house, they end up leaving a piece of old galvanized pipe in the system because it's too hard to get to. Say where it goes into a slab or concrete. I've seen plenty where the copper is just through the drywall. Then it ties back into the old crap.
You might have to do a little exploratory work....

I tell customers that working on an old house is a bit like pulling on a loose piece of yarn in a cable knit sweeter.

[volvolugnut]

If you have galvanized pipe connected to copper/brass, they will eventually corrode and leak. The Galvanic cell difference creates a battery and transfers material. Black iron pipe is OK, but not galvanized (zinc).

volvolugnut

[Sveedy]

If they do it right, then they use a rubber " no hub band ". Basically a big fancy hose clamp with two clamps and a rubber sleeve.
Just cut what ever pipes and clamp them together with space between.

[matthew1]

I think the water heater is dying. That's my current hypothesis.

https://www.christiansonco.com/low-hot-water-pressure/

I looked closely at hot water pressure at the 4 places in the house that have hot/cold co-located and hot is slower in all four.

The biggest evidence however is simply the sticker on the tank. It was installed 2004. So it's past due.

How does it explain vibrating for the shower? I can't explain that.

[MoVolvos]

I think the water heater is dying. That's my current hypothesis.

https://www.christiansonco.com/low-hot-water-pressure/

I looked closely at hot water pressure at the 4 places in the house that have hot/cold co-located and hot is slower in all four.

The biggest evidence however is simply the sticker on the tank. It was installed 2004. So it's past due.

How does it explain vibrating for the shower? I can't explain that.

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Way, way overdue! Mine was 07/06 and it gave out in April. Warn two neighbors and theirs went back to back last week. Crawl space, basement and garage were the locations.

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[Sveedy]

Still on my original one to the house - 1999.
But I have drained and flushed it a couple of times as well as replacing one of the heating elements.

[MoVolvos]

Still on my original one to the house - 1999.
But I have drained and flushed it a couple of times as well as replacing one of the heating elements.

I have never drained a water heater before. Wait I have, 3 as a matter of fact. Mine and the 2 neighbors when they all started leaking. Got called to both.

I think I will do so now once a year per preventive recommendation.


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[matthew1]

Fixed it. Removed feed and tested, all good. Removed hot out and tested, all good (!). Both full pressure. So it's the unit, right?

Hooked everything back up as I was looking at how much I had in checking account. Then I ran hot for fun. Full pressure. Huh?

Must have been a bubble.

Thanks to all who offered their ideas. Much appreciated.

[abscate]

I got 15 years out of my last ( hot) water heater ( technically, a cold water heater) which had 7-9 girl showers daily. Switched to an awesome on demand unit and should have done that years ago.