I have a 5 year old house and often when I run a bath or hot shower in the master bathroom I get scalding hot water from my cold water spicot in the master bathroom sink for about 1 to 2 hours afterwards. If I run a hot bath, I also can't get cold from the master shower after.. just hot. It is as thought the hotwater is filling up the cold water sink pipe when I call up hotwater from the boiler for the bathtub. I asked a plumber and he said he never heard of such a crazy thing. He said the hot and cold water pipes are separate so there is no way for the hot water to get into the cold water pipe. But it is happening!

Help!

Jennifer, let me first ask you few questions:

1. Was there ANY plumbing work done in your house ?
2. Was it always doing or it just happened recently ?
3. Do you have hot water circulation system installed ?

The house is only 5 years old. I have not had any plumbing work done. I have owned the house for about 2 years. The problem has existed since I bought the house... but off and on and definitely more prevalent in the winter months.

To give more info: the master bathroom sink works fine normally... however if I give the kids a hot bath at night in the master bath then usually (although not always) about an hour later when I go to wash my face and brush my teeth I have hot water coming out of the cold water spicot. Even if I let it run for about 5 or 6 minutes it is still steaming hot.

It is as thought the hot water has filled up the cold water pipe in the process of coming up from the boiler in the basement to fill the bathtub.

Of note - it takes a good 6 to 8 minutes for my hot water to reach my masterbathroom. I have to turn on the shower or bath and let it run for awhile before the hot water makes it up from the boiler in the basement.

It is a pretty big house - contemporary - 5 bedrooms - 4 bathrooms.

Hopefully that helps.

I don't know anything about the heating system question you asked.

If you look at your boiler in the basement: do you see any pump installed / attached to the pipes around the heater ? It should have elec. Cord and should be plugged in.

Also, at your shower: what kind of faucet do you have ? Single handle, two handles ?
The tub: what kind of faucet do you have there ?

Can you snap a photo of your shower and tub faucets and post it ?

If you look at your boiler in the basement: do you see any pump installed / attached to the pipes around the heater ? It should have elec. cord and should be plugged in.

Also, at your shower: what kind of faucet do you have ? Single handle, two handles ?
The tub: what kind of faucet do you have there ?

Can you snap a photo of your shower and tub faucets and post it ?


I will take pictures tonight. No sign of a hot water circulation systme... no pump, elect cord etc.

Shower - single handle
Tub - two handles
Sink - two handles

My friends theory is that the cold water pipe was laid too close to the heating duct work and it may be heating the cold water pipe... thoughts?

Your friend's theory is far fetched. It looks like you have crossed pipes, bad check valve, or your faucet may be malfunctioning.

Mostly, this happens when you have some work - of any scope - done on your house and pipes get crossed in the process.

Here is the problem -- it doesn't happen all the time. My friend says if it was crossed pipes or a valve problem it would happen all the time consistently.
We believe it is happening more in the winter -- which would make sense on his theory because that is when the heat is running.

It is the inconsistency of it only happening sometimes that seems to blow out any theory of crossed pipes etc... because wouldn't that happen all the time?

Thanks

Hi Milo - here is the answer the plumber who installed the plumbing is giving me (I tracked him down through the builder). Does this make sense to you? I'm a little reluctant to use him... or even believe him... for fear he is covering up his own mistake?


" I would find it almost impossible that the lines are backwards, as the house was inspected by the local plumbing inspector, and I did the plumbing. The problem is defiantly a cross connection probably coming from the Jacuzzi tub cause there are check valves that were installed and one of them might be bad.

Thanks

Dave

Hi Milo - here is the answer the plumber who installed the plumbing is giving me (I tracked him down through the builder). Does this make sense to you? I'm a little reluctant to use him... or even believe him... for fear he is covering up his own mistake?


" I would find it almost impossible that the lines are backwards, as the house was inspected by the local plumbing inspector, and I did the plumbing. The problem is defiantly a cross connection probably coming from the Jacuzzi tub cause there are check valves that were installed and one of them might be bad.

Thanks

Dave

Water lines near a furnace ducting would not cause steaming hot water. Luke warm at best. I would suggest hiring the plumber that did the job, because he will know what was done and have a better chance of locating problem. If he knows about some check valves that were installed, he can locate them faster and check them to see if this is your problem. It actually sounds like this is your problem. Some how hot water is feeding into your cold water piping. A faulty check valve(in the right location) could cause this, no doubt. Please let us know what you find, as it will be near impossible for us to locate your problem without being able to trouble shoot it hands on in person. Take care and good luck.