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Message |
    
ceejay
Citizen
Username: Ceejay1234
Post Number: 21
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 2:59 pm: | 
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I tried using the search function for this but couldn't really find anything so here i am. Our hot water, while not cool, has to be set all the way to hot in the shower in order to be reasonably hot, but not quite hot enough. The temp on the hot water heater is set to high, so I'm not sure if maybe we're doing something else wrong. It's not old, so it should be working right. Anyone have ideas on this? |
Jgberkeley
Citizen
Username: Jgberkeley
Post Number: 4453
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 3:41 pm: |
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Could be several things.
First, is the water hotter at the Lav sink in the bathroom? Newer shower fixtures have anti scald devices and yours could be set to the wrong tempature.
Next, did this just start or has it always been this way? The dip tube could have broken off in the hot water heater.
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mark halliday
Citizen
Username: Markhalliday
Post Number: 7
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 4:01 pm: |
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If this is house wide and the water heater is old/oldish 5 + years....you may also have a lot of sediment that has built up on the bottom. You may want to try to turn of the gas to the heater(this will mean the pilot light will have to be re-lit) so it cools a little and then drain off some of the water from the bottom faucet on the tank. if it runs clear quickly there may be another problem. If local only to the shower and each feed(cold and hot) has a seperate cut off faucets check to see if they are both opened to the same amount of turns(= water pressure).You could also lower the cold water pressure a little and crank up the hot to even out the mixing at the shower itself. |
Master Plvmber
Citizen
Username: Master_plvmber
Post Number: 484
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 5:09 pm: |
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Why do you have to let the water cool off before draining it? Couldn't you just turn the unitrol to pilot instead of shutting the gas?
The cut off faucets being open the same amount of turns: What if they're different types of valves or made by different manufacturers? What if ceejay is only using a 25% hot mixture at the shower anyway? Lower the cold pressure? How do you do that? Wouldn't closing down the valve just decrease the volume of water?
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Jgberkeley
Citizen
Username: Jgberkeley
Post Number: 4454
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 5:45 pm: |
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Mark H.
"are both opened to the same amount of turns(= water pressure)"
Not true.
What you suggest changes flow volume in a piped fluid system. Pressure in the system in not be affected. In general, pressure will stay constant.
I think what the Master Plumber is trying to tell you is that you should not be giving advice. |
David Cataneo
Citizen
Username: Dave_cataneo
Post Number: 112
Registered: 4-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 9:04 pm: |
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Is the water hotter at the sink faucets? Could be an adjustable anti-scald limit on your shower faucet that can be set hotter. |
mark halliday
Citizen
Username: Markhalliday
Post Number: 9
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 10:03 pm: |
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I disagree....lowering the cold water feed will increase the hot water flow through. I'm not suggesting many turns. sorry about the pilot....you are right there. But I would recommend leting the water cool off before draining. Sludge build up will affect the efficiency of the heater. and jgberkeley should save his sarcasm |
ceejay
Citizen
Username: Ceejay1234
Post Number: 22
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 10:48 am: |
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Thank you for the advice! We'll give the draining a try and see if that works. |
Jgberkeley
Citizen
Username: Jgberkeley
Post Number: 4460
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 1:55 pm: |
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ceejay,
Have you run the water at the bathroom sink?
Does the hot run hot after a while? |
Grrrrrrrrrrr
Citizen
Username: Oldsctls67
Post Number: 295
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 5:15 pm: |
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I have the same problem...The water in my bathroom sink gets hot, but the shower does not get hot...I'm going to drain my hwh, and search for the anti-scald thing. Where should I look for it? I'm supposing it's on the showerhead somewhere? |
Jgberkeley
Citizen
Username: Jgberkeley
Post Number: 4462
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 6:15 pm: |
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If the water runs hot in your bath sink, but not in the shower, draining your hotwater heater is not going to solve your problem.
The problem is likely in the shower valves.
They can go bad inside and cause water flow restrictions, and if you have an anti scald device it can fail or be set to a very cold setting.
These units mix cold water with the hot water and only allow a warm water to flow from the valve to the faucet or shower head. They have dials with temp settings on them. Adjust it to make the down stream water warmer.
But if the valve broke, call a plumber, or a very handy person who know what they are doing. |
Jgberkeley
Citizen
Username: Jgberkeley
Post Number: 4463
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 6:17 pm: |
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Oh, the anti scald device is part of the hot-cold water valve assemble inside the wall behind the tile.
If you have a plate at the valves, remove the handles and the plate, you can get to the adjustment on most, this way. |
Grrrrrrrrrrr
Citizen
Username: Oldsctls67
Post Number: 297
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Friday, February 24, 2006 - 12:12 am: |
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gotcha, thanks! |
mwsilva
Citizen
Username: Mwsilva
Post Number: 484
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, February 26, 2006 - 2:41 pm: |
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I think I have the same problem. I have hot water at every sink and warm water in the bath tub. Warm even with the hot turned all the way on and the cold off.
I removed the handle and two screws on the plate.
The plate will not come off. What now? |
Jgberkeley
Citizen
Username: Jgberkeley
Post Number: 4467
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, February 26, 2006 - 9:03 pm: |
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It is a good chance that the plate is just stuck on with caulking or mineral build up. Cut the caulking away with a knife and gently try to pry the plate loose.
Later,
George |
SOSully
Citizen
Username: Sullymw
Post Number: 1163
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, February 27, 2006 - 8:59 am: |
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I fixed this problem in my tub/shower by adjusting the anti-scald device. Look for your faucet on the manufacturer's website (if it's not too old) and see whether it has an anti-scald adjustment. |
SOSully
Citizen
Username: Sullymw
Post Number: 1164
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, February 27, 2006 - 9:00 am: |
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btw, my anti-scald device was in the handle, not behind the plate |
Rick B
Citizen
Username: Ruck1977
Post Number: 995
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 28, 2006 - 12:09 pm: |
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was watching ask this old house the other day and the call was about muddy hot water. turns out a good bit of sludge built up in the bottom of the water heater, even so much to cover the bottom heating element (it was electric with 2 elements).
The solution was to drain the water heater and get the sludge out. however, the warning was to be prepared to replace your water heater. this water heater was 10 years old, and the advice was that if you don't regularly drain (like every 2 years) that draining now could cause damage.
The reason, I can't remember. Any of you guys know what they could have been talking about? |
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