Please help! I had a new laundry room added to my house in June and since then my hot water is only lukewarm. I had the hot water heater replaced thinking there was an issue but the problem persists. The pipe coming out of the new hot water heater is very hot but the kitchen sink located less than 10 feet away is lukewarm as is all other faucets in the house. The new laundry room is located directly behind the old one so the plumber just turned the hot/cold connections around. Could he have crossed the lines? If so, would this have an effect on the entire house? If I turn all of the hot water faucets on in both upstairs bathrooms I can get hot water in most locations. I am baffled and before I call the plumber back to tear out the drywall and check the lines he connected, I want to make sure this is or has a strong suspicion to be the root cause. I guess I don't understand how this could be causing the entire house to have an issue when it appears that the connections are only the washer and the kitchen sink. Any advice is most greatly appreciated.

Of course you have a cross connection. The only question is whether it's a cross connection in one of your one handled faucets of something the plumber did when he plumbed the new laundry room. Since the problem began after he worked on your house I'm inclined to believe it's something that's he's responsible for. Try this, starting with the laundry faucet go through the house and shut off the supplies to each faucet to check that the crossconnection isn't in one of them. If no changes then call your plumber back. Good luck. Tom

Many thanks! Since nothing else was changed, I will start try you suggestion and then call the plumber. If a faucet is bad, would that have an impact on all of the water flow? Just asking as house is 13 years old and none of the faucets upstairs have been changed.

I did as you suggested and there is no change. However, I have 2 showers and a garden tub all with single lever handles that I cannot find any way to turn off the supply. All are located upstairs. If one of these was bad, would it impact the whole house? I am trying to cover all bases before the plumber rips out my wall.

I have 2 showers and a garden tub all with single lever handles that I cannot find any way to turn off the supply
Remove the chrome face plate and you will see a screw driver stop at the supply connection, (see image). These will shut the water off on one handled valves. Good luck, Tom

Tom,

Many thanks! Your picture was great and I have found the culprit! Single lever shower faucet in master bath. I got my trusty tools and took the thing (very technical plumbing term) apart, located the screws, turned them to cut off water supply and presto, I had hot water again. I would never have figured out that one faucet could have an impact on the whole house. You saved my new laundry toom wall from being torn apart to check new plumbing. I have ordered the part from a plumbing supply company to repair and will attempt to do it myself next week. Your suggestions and instructions were spot on! Thanks

Joanne

Who were you addressing this post to? We all can read it, not just the person you are trying to reach. Either send that person a PM or e-mail or announce who you are trying to reach. Was it Tom, Milo or Mark by chance?

It was me Bob! ( My first clue is when she headed it "Tom".)
Hey Jonnie,
I hope you ordrered a new cartridge. If you give me the brand name of your valve I'll give you a hand on installing it. Cheers, Tom

It is a Kohler, my faucet is model #K-15132. Thanks!

It is a Kohler, my faucet is model #K-15132. Thanks!

This may be of help,(see image). Good luck Tom