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    lllsmilelll's Avatar
    lllsmilelll Posts: 15, Reputation: 1
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    #1

    Jan 18, 2007, 04:48 PM
    Hot water first few minutes than again 10-15minutes later
    Hello, I recently bought a brand new house. Everything is brand new the water heater, faucet, shower etc. The water heater is in the basement.

    When I use the upstair shower, the hot water would run the first 30 seconds or so then it will get warm and I would have to turn the knob to the hottest setting. But even at the hottest, it still isn't hot enough. After about 10 or 15 minutes showering with the hottest setting it gets hot again so I turn the knob to medium so now I finally get the temperature I want but that hot water only lasts about 5 minutes.

    I would understand if I showered about 10-15 minutes and it started getting warm (because I probably used up the hot water) but in this case the water becomes warm in 30 seconds.

    Every time I shower it does this and recently because of the cold weather I stopped getting in the shower right away and let it run till it gets to the hot water point and then jump in.
    But then that would be a total waste of water and heating for 10-15 minutes.

    The other faucets seems to be fine. But I don't use that long time on other faucets like the shower so I'm not sure.

    Can anybody tell me what I should do? Thank you and warm regards.
    speedball1's Avatar
    speedball1 Posts: 29,301, Reputation: 1939
    Eternal Plumber
    		  
    #2

    Jan 19, 2007, 11:49 AM
    About the only thingvthat comes to mind in a situation such as yours is that the installer put heat directly on the heaters cold water inlet and melted the plastic flange on the dip tube allowing it to fall into the tank. This would insert cold water into the hot water in the upper part of the water heater and not carry it to the bottom where it would be heated. This would be the first thing I checked. Good luck, Tom
    lllsmilelll's Avatar
    lllsmilelll Posts: 15, Reputation: 1
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    #3

    Jan 19, 2007, 03:58 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by speedball1
    About the only thingvthat comes to mind in a situation such as yours is that the installer put heat directly on the heaters cold water inlet and melted the plastic flange on the dip tube allowing it to fall into the tank. This would insert cold water into the hot water in the upper part of the water heater and not carry it to the bottom where it would be heated. This would be the first thing I checked. good luck, Tom
    Thank you very much for the quick response.

    Is there a way to check this myself or should I just call a plumber?

    Thank you
    speedball1's Avatar
    speedball1 Posts: 29,301, Reputation: 1939
    Eternal Plumber
    		  
    #4

    Jan 19, 2007, 04:08 PM
    Is there a way to check this myself or should I just call a plumber?

    Shut the water off at the house stop. Cut the cold water supply and unscrew the fitting out of the heaters cold water inlet. Pull the dip tube out for inspection. Good luck, Tom
    lllsmilelll's Avatar
    lllsmilelll Posts: 15, Reputation: 1
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    #5

    Jan 23, 2007, 10:15 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by speedball1
    Is there a way to check this myself or should I just call a plumber?

    Shut the water off at the house stop. Cut the cold water supply and unscrew the fitting out of the heaters cold water inlet. Pull the dip tube out for inspection. Good luck, Tom
    Thank you I will try it. :)
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