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Cold water mixing with my hot water

NoQuarter | Posted in General Discussion on October 21, 2008 03:39am

Over the last few months, I have adjusted my water heater temp setting higher and higher. After the third time, I finally realized something must be wrong and not just my imagination. The setting is now ~130deg.

I called my plumbing company that installed my three year old water heater. The plumber found that nothing is wrong with my water heater. What he did discover is pretty weird – my cold water is mixing at nearly full pressure into my hot water.

I have had no plumbing work to account for any possible mistakes so I guess that leaves my 2 showers and 2 bathroom sinks that have a single handle faucet as the possible culprit? He checked the washing machine.

Other possibilities?

 

Thanks,

Jim

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Replies

  1. dovetail97128 | Oct 21, 2008 03:58am | #1

    Did the plumber check the dip tube in the HW tank?

    If that has been broken or deteriorated then the cold water will mix with the hot water right at the top of the tank.

    They can't get your Goat if you don't tell them where it is hidden.
  2. User avater
    BillHartmann | Oct 21, 2008 04:04am | #2

    Do you have a recirculation pump or loop?

    Some simple diagostic is to fill the temperature of water pipes.

    .
    .
    A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
  3. cynwyd | Oct 21, 2008 06:49am | #3

    Sounds like a mixing valve problem.

    One scenario, if you have separate controls for hot and cold in the shower along with a separate valve for mixing and users don't turn the hot and cold off, just turn the mixer to off, that could do it.

  4. DanH | Oct 21, 2008 02:03pm | #4

    Three possibilities:

    The water heater is installed backwards.

    The dip tube is broken.

    A single-handle shower/tub control has failed. These often fail in a way that lets water bypass through even when the control is all the way off.

    Corporation: n. An ingenious device for obtaining individual profit without individual responsibility. --Ambrose Bierce
    1. NoQuarter | Oct 22, 2008 02:27am | #5

      Thanks to all for the comments.

       

      I'll ask about the dip tube and feel around the water pipes to see what I can figure out.

      I'm betting on the single-handle valve failure.

       

      Jim

      1. martyg | Oct 22, 2008 06:28am | #6

        I had (still have sort of) the same problem. We remodeled in 1986 and installed a single knob shower valve for the washing machine. Push in to shut off water for machine, pull out so the washer gets water. Wasn't the right way, but didn't know any better at the time. It did save a mess once when my wife happened to be standing a few feet from the washer when a hose broke (they're stainless braid now). She reached over and slammed the valve shut. Probably less than a cup of water spilled.Anyway, last year we replaced the water heater. Suddenly we couldn't get more than tepid water in the kitchen which is downstream from the washing machine, no matter how high I turned the control. Manufacturer sent their service agent who decided the thermostat was defective and replaced it. Didn't fix the problem. Nasty communications with water heater manufacturer.Finally a tech at the manufacturer said to be sure that the washing machine valve was closed and see what happened. Hot water in abundance. Don't know why it started suddenly, but now it works. Someday I'll cut into the wall and put a real shut off valve for the washer in.

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