Quick question for youze guys.
Early this morning….4 AM…..I turned on the hot water at my kitchen sink. The water, almost instantly, came out hot…..not just warm….but hot. This was the first use of the day since about 11 PM the night before. Normally theres several seconds delay before the water warms up…..even in the middle of the day. This is the second time I`ve noticed this is the past week, but don`t recall the exact scenario the first go round.
I`ve got a farely new (2yrs?) 80 gal., gas fired, heater…..independent of boiler…..and the kitchen sink is one of the closest fixtures to the tank.
I`ll be paying attention more closely in the coming days to see how often it occurs…..in the meantime, I`m wondering if anyone has any ideas what might be causing this?
Thanks in advance.
J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
“DO IT RIGHT, DO IT ONCE”
Replies
The faucet or something downstream may be leaking, so the pipes never cool.
Downstream, as in further down the loop? Wouldn`t it actually have to be "upstream"? And while I`m throwing questions at you.....might it be the kitchen faucet itself?
The only "fixture" I can think of that might be "leaking" (and by this I assume you mean bleeding?) where it might go un-noticed would be the washing machine. I`ll check on that.
Thanks for the input.J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
"DO IT RIGHT, DO IT ONCE"
I think csnow is right, a downstream faucet leaking (downstream from the kitchen faucet would be further down the line from the kitchen faucet and HWH) would bring hot water past the T that the kitchen is fed from. If an upstream faucet was leaking (upstream from the kitchen would be closer to the HWH) the hotwater wouldn't pass the T, so there would be a longer time to get hot water when you opened the kitchen faucet.
Make sense?
I never met a tool I didn't like!
Yes it does....thanks....it started to as I was typing....and picturing the scenario.
Sumtimes us nail bangers are a tad slow when it comes to piping.J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
"DO IT RIGHT, DO IT ONCE"
One sort of "leak" you can have is if you have a faucet with a second valve after the mixing valves. If the second valve is closed and the mixing valves are open then water can circulate from hot to cold and back to the water heater tank. Or occasionally a single-control valve will fail in such a way that it allows flow between hot and cold when turned off.
I think I`m followin` ya.....how might I be able to tell if thats the case?J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
"DO IT RIGHT, DO IT ONCE"
Look for a valve that controls both the mix of hot and cold in addition to the volume of water. If the volume control is in the off position while the mix is engaged your water system would behave as if the hot water was left open - because it is. This would give instant hot in the kitchen. Toilet tank water could also be warm if the intrusion of hot water warms all the cold supply.
Do you have a tempering mix valve for a toilet, that could be malfunctioning.
Do you have one of those hot water recirculating loops?
We have them in the house we live in now. Sometimes it seems to work great, and other times not at all.
No I don`t.....reviews from those who have them are similar to your own, so I`ve done without.J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
"DO IT RIGHT, DO IT ONCE"
Add a vote to the "have it and love it and would do it again" side.
Check the spare bedroom for a mother-in-law.
God forbid!J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
"DO IT RIGHT, DO IT ONCE"