Ask Experts Questions for FREE Help !
Ask
    Captain Pierre's Avatar
    Captain Pierre Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
    New Member
     
    #1

    Jun 5, 2008, 07:43 PM
    Slow getting hot water
    I have two hot water tanks connected in parallel with a 1 inch hot water pipe. The tanks are 75 ft apart. The cold water feed is also a 1 inch pipe. The tank thermostats are set at
    145 F. There are 14 faucets getting hot water from these tanks. There is no shut off valve between the tanks hot water pipe. We will call the front and the rear hot water tanks.
    The problem is if I open a hot water faucet near the rear water tank (approx 15 ft), it would take about 5 minutes to get hot water unless I open another hot water faucet near the 1st faucet. It appears the hot water travels from the front tank first (75 ft away) before getting water from the rear tank. I also noticed as the front tank hot water gets close to the rear facet, the pipe from the rear tank is getting hotter. I believe the hot water is coming from both tanks after the water reaches max temp.
    Is the symptom experienced due to the property of cold and hot water traveling into a pipe? I know how to fix the problem but I would like to understand what is happening with this plumbing set up. Thank you.

    Pierre
    truck 41's Avatar
    truck 41 Posts: 221, Reputation: 21
    Full Member
     
    #2

    Jun 5, 2008, 08:06 PM
    Hello pierre, Do you have check valves on both cold water supply's to the two water heaters? No recirc pump? It sounds like the front tank is pushing water back to the rear tank that would explain why you get cold water when you turn the back lav. That's why there should be checkvalves at the cold water supply's at both water heaters. Check the valve to the rear water heater to make sure that the valve is fully open, you can turn the front water heater valve off to check what the pressure is like on the rear one. Hope this helps good luck.----Zeke
    Captain Pierre's Avatar
    Captain Pierre Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
    New Member
     
    #3

    Jun 8, 2008, 02:26 PM
    Zeke,

    I thank you for your information. There is a check valve on each cold water supply's of the water tanks. The valve at the rear of each water heater is fully open. If I shut the front hot water valve, the hot water comes from the rear tank with about the same pressure. I have observed when the hot water pipe has removed the cold water (coming from the front hot tank) and the hot water is near the rear sink, the rear hot water tank pipe starts drawing hot water from it. The rear hot water tank pipe gets hot immediately.
    Pierre
    truck 41's Avatar
    truck 41 Posts: 221, Reputation: 21
    Full Member
     
    #4

    Jun 8, 2008, 10:14 PM
    Hello C. pierre, 1. what type of faucet do have on lavs? 2. do you have mixing valves at the waters? 3. does the main water supply to the building come in from the front water heater side or the rear water heater side? I'm wondering if the supply is closer to the front water heater, that when you turn on the faucet next to the rear, that the hot water is being drawn from the front water heater first for some reason. Are checkvalves spring or swing type ? That might be where the problem is. Thanks Zeke

Not your question? Ask your question View similar questions

 

Question Tools Search this Question
Search this Question:

Advanced Search

Add your answer here.


Check out some similar questions!

Hot water slow in whole house [ 1 Answers ]

For some reason my hot water in running very slow in my whole house. Cold water great pressure but hot very low. It is this way upstairs, downstairs through the whole house. I turned the hot water off at the pressure breaker drained about 5 gals. Of water at T&P valve of the hot water heater and...

Slow flow hot water [ 1 Answers ]

The flow from hot water side is too slow, cold is fine. I think I raise pressure by loosening up the hot water spigot. The handle up by the tub is "frozen (or rusted) in place". Is there a way to raise the pressure down in the basement at the water tank? It is a stand alone claw-foot...

Slow hot water [ 1 Answers ]

Hi - when I use my hot water in the sink it flows as a trickle. I thought it could be a clog somewhere but I don't know where. Maybe the faucet itself? Can someone help - I need hot water for doing dishes ! Thank you. Mary

Slow to get hot water [ 5 Answers ]

Hi, We live in a small (1600 sq ft) 1 story house that was built four years ago. Our problem is that it takes a long time (like 1 or 2 minutes) for hot water to come out of the tap. This occurs at all taps in or house whether they are 10 feet away from the hot water heater or 20 feet (which is...

Slow hot water [ 8 Answers ]

Last month, our condo had pipe repairs - we have no idea what they were, but the water was turned off and then back on about 3 times over the course of a week I think. Since then, a lot of us have had to run the hot water tap for 3 or more minutes to get hot water. Supposedly an engineer checked...


View more questions Search