> >Hi...

> >   Our house has a well with pretty hard water in it; we find stuff
> >precipitating over time in the toilets, etc.  We've got one pipe that's
> >a particular problem - the hot water pipe to the shower in the
> >downstairs bathroom.  We don't use that shower often, but both the water
> >pressure and the temperature of the water coming out seem to be falling
> >off steeply over the last 5 or 6 months.

> >   The pressure and temperature of the hot water in the sink in the same
> >bathroom isn't anywhere near as bad.

> >   Is there an easy way to tell if this is caused by mineral deposits,
> >and if so where in the pipe?  It's getting to the point where we
> >couldn't expect any guests to use that bathroom anymore.

> My favorite suspect is the anti-scald valve getting munged up
> with crud.

> Shut off the water to that branch, dip the shower-head
> in a gallon of cheap vinigar, and then open the waste-cock
> on that hot-water shutoff, to suck the vinegar backwards
> through the valve.  Let it sit overnight, and then blow it
> clear and see if that helps.