I have a newly built townhouse with a shower on the 3rd floor. Water heater in on 1st floor and turned it up 2 notches as soon as we moved in because shower hot water was lukewarm on full blast. Problem is that hot water is close to scalding on 1st and 2nd floors but not nearly that hot in shower on 3rd. Also takes a few minutes for it to actually get the 'hot' water to a comfortable showering temp after turning it on. Takes about a minute at the faucets in the same 3rd floor bath but the water gets much hotter, although not quite as hot as those on lower floors. My builder will be addressing issues on a 90 day punch list and I would like to be aware of what may be causing this problem to be sure it is fixed correctly. Thanks for the help.

I would suggest having a circulating pump installed. This would get you instant hot water at every fixture in the house. I'm sure what's happening is that by the time it makes it to the 3rd floor the water is cooling off.

I have a newly built townhouse with a shower on the 3rd floor. Water heater in on 1st floor and turned it up 2 notches as soon as we moved in because shower hot water was lukewarm on full blast. Problem is that hot water is close to scalding on 1st and 2nd floors but not nearly that hot in shower on 3rd. Also takes a few minutes for it to actually get the 'hot' water to a comfortable showering temp after turning it on. Takes about a minute at the faucets in the same 3rd floor bath but the water gets much hotter, although not quite as hot as those on lower floors. My builder will be addressing issues on a 90 day punch list and I would like to be aware of what may be causing this problem to be sure it is fixed correctly. Thanks for the help.

Sounds like the temperature limiting stop on all of the shower valves need to be adjusted.

Set the HW Tank to 120F -- You can reliably test and set the temp by using a meat thermometer at the sink nearest the HW Tank -- And then adjust the temperature limiting stop at each shower valves to 120F.

You may then dial the tank up to a hotter temp once the shower valves have been calibrated.

BTW, 120F is merely a tolerable benchmark or starting point.

I would suggest having a circulating pump installed. This would get you instant hot water at every fixture in the house. I'm sure whats happening is that by the time it makes it to the 3rd floor the water is cooling off.

Isn't it a bit late (He's already moved in, for crying out loud) to be thinking about having a re-circ loop installed?

It was just an idea. But thanks for the attitude.

It was just an idea. but thanks for the attitude.

No worries -- Just striving for a realistic solution.