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Any Plumbers here? Got a quick shower/hot water heater question

post #1 of 20
5/16/09 at 6:54pm
Thread Starter 
Ok, so after the gym I am attempting to take a cold shower. At first, the water comes out freezing but after about a minute, the water starts to warm up. The thing is, I'm not moving the handle. I can't figure this out and my google searches have been fruitless. Any ideas or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
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post #2 of 20
5/16/09 at 6:57pm
There's a lot of water sitting in your pipes. Check the temperature of the water in the heater itself to confirm.
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post #3 of 20
5/16/09 at 7:05pm
Thread Starter 
How would I go about this?

Also, I normally turn the water off and back on to conserve. Even then, the water keeps it's luke warm temp.
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post #4 of 20
5/16/09 at 7:40pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by why View Post
There's a lot of water sitting in your pipes. Check the temperature of the water in the heater itself to confirm.

This.
To check the water heater, look on the side and find the temp setting. Set it to "hot" or "warm" and see if the problem changes at all. But really the first bit will always be cold because the water sitting in the pipes between the heater and your shower can't be heated by the water heater.
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post #5 of 20
5/16/09 at 11:01pm
Thread Starter 
I don't understand how this would be making the water go from cold to warm and keep it from going back to cold again. The first thing that comes out is the cold water. If I was flushing out hot water from the pipes, wouldn't the first thing I get be warm water?

I'll check on the heater and get back to you. I know that the temp is set to 120 though, if that helps any.
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post #6 of 20
5/17/09 at 1:33am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rambo View Post
I don't understand how this would be making the water go from cold to warm and keep it from going back to cold again. The first thing that comes out is the cold water. If I was flushing out hot water from the pipes, wouldn't the first thing I get be warm water? I'll check on the heater and get back to you. I know that the temp is set to 120 though, if that helps any.
I believe what people have been trying to say is that you are turning on "warm" water to begin with, and what's coming out is cold water from your pipes - so you think that its cold, but in reality, what you selected is a hot/cold mix. (which then, after a few seconds, warms up) If that isn't the case, the only other things I can think of are that you have a recirculating valve in your water line that puts hot water into your cold water line, but these aren't very common, and would only be probable if your hot water heater is really far away from your bathroom. It would likely be located under your sink, and look somewhat like a small box with a timer dial on it. Also, it could be that your mixing valve (in the wall of your shower, its what your handle is attached to) needs new washers/to be serviced. But you'd probably notice that you couldn't shut your water off in that case, like it would keep dripping. Any plumbing work done in your house recently? Unlikely that someone mistakenly crossed your pipes, but I have seen it happen.
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post #7 of 20
5/17/09 at 4:03pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tokyo Slim View Post
I believe what people have been trying to say is that you are turning on "warm" water to begin with, and what's coming out is cold water from your pipes - so you think that its cold, but in reality, what you selected is a hot/cold mix. (which then, after a few seconds, warms up)

If that isn't the case, the only other things I can think of are that you have a recirculating valve in your water line that puts hot water into your cold water line, but these aren't very common, and would only be probable if your hot water heater is really far away from your bathroom. It would likely be located under your sink, and look somewhat like a small box with a timer dial on it.

Also, it could be that your mixing valve (in the wall of your shower, its what your handle is attached to) needs new washers/to be serviced. But you'd probably notice that you couldn't shut your water off in that case, like it would keep dripping.

Any plumbing work done in your house recently? Unlikely that someone mistakenly crossed your pipes, but I have seen it happen.

The apartment is only about 5 years old and was unlived in for the first 4 years. Seller bought it to flip and once the market tanked, he decided to rent it out. I am the first person to live here.

I crank the handle all the way to the right. Oddly enough, the picture on the handle has the hot(red) on the right side and the blue(cold) on the left. When I turn the handle to the left I get the hottest water. I don't know.

I just double checked the temp. Definitely below 125. There are two covered holes and I can't get the top one off no matter how much I unscrew the screw .
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post #8 of 20
5/17/09 at 4:10pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rambo View Post
The apartment is only about 5 years old and was unlived in for the first 4 years. Seller bought it to flip and once the market tanked, he decided to rent it out. I am the first person to live here.

I crank the handle all the way to the right. Oddly enough, the picture on the handle has the hot(red) on the right side and the blue(cold) on the left. When I turn the handle to the left I get the hottest water. I don't know.

I just double checked the temp. Definitely below 125. There are two covered holes and I can't get the top one off no matter how much I unscrew the screw .

Don't mess with your water heater. It doesn't have anything to do with that.

I wonder if whoever installed your shower put the temperature safety stopper in backwards... There's usually a little plastic notched washer that keeps you from scalding yourself by turning the hot water completely on. (so that its always mixed with SOME cold water) If somehow yours got jammed in backwards, it might keep you from turning on on only cold water. I dunno though, it just seems like maybe you should bite the bullet and have your landlord take a look at it. Or just accept that it like it is. At least it's not your place. If something goes wrong with the pipes, you don't have to pay for it.
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post #9 of 20
5/17/09 at 11:14pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tokyo Slim View Post
Don't mess with your water heater. It doesn't have anything to do with that.

I wonder if whoever installed your shower put the temperature safety stopper in backwards... There's usually a little plastic notched washer that keeps you from scalding yourself by turning the hot water completely on. (so that its always mixed with SOME cold water) If somehow yours got jammed in backwards, it might keep you from turning on on only cold water. I dunno though, it just seems like maybe you should bite the bullet and have your landlord take a look at it. Or just accept that it like it is. At least it's not your place. If something goes wrong with the pipes, you don't have to pay for it.

Hmm. Can I access this myself? Despite my water heater cover mishap, I'm rather handy. Failing that, I'm just planning on living with it. It's not the end of the world.
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post #10 of 20
5/23/09 at 1:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rambo View Post
Hmm. Can I access this myself? Despite my water heater cover mishap, I'm rather handy. Failing that, I'm just planning on living with it. It's not the end of the world.

I dunno. I'm not comfortable telling someone "handy" that they can do plumbing more complicated than plunging a toilet. I've seen many floods caused by "handy" people, and if you mess up your shower valve, you are going to need a new bathroom WALL at least.

Aside from that, sure, its easy. But do you know what you are doing or what you are even looking at?
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post #11 of 20
5/23/09 at 11:27pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tokyo Slim View Post
I dunno. I'm not comfortable telling someone "handy" that they can do plumbing more complicated than plunging a toilet. I've seen many floods caused by "handy" people, and if you mess up your shower valve, you are going to need a new bathroom WALL at least. Aside from that, sure, its easy. But do you know what you are doing or what you are even looking at?
Well, I've replaced entire toilets, toilet flush systems, faucets, etc. Never taken apart a shower but there's a first time for everything. You know anything about installing and removing mirrors? I've got to replace a cracked bathroom mirror.
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post #12 of 20
5/24/09 at 2:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rambo View Post
Well, I've replaced entire toilets, toilet flush systems, faucets, etc. Never taken apart a shower but there's a first time for everything.

You know anything about installing and removing mirrors? I've got to replace a cracked bathroom mirror.

is it glued onto the wall? Prepare to drywall patch.
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post #13 of 20
5/25/09 at 2:01pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tokyo Slim View Post
is it glued onto the wall? Prepare to drywall patch.
Cut the entire drywall with the mirror attached to it? No way to pull the mirror off and stick another one back on?
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post #14 of 20
5/25/09 at 3:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rambo View Post
Cut the entire drywall with the mirror attached to it? No way to pull the mirror off and stick another one back on?
You pry it off with a big flat putty knife and a wonder bar, carefully! But you are going to take big pieces of drywall with it, and you will probably break the mirror doing it.
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post #15 of 20
5/26/09 at 12:28am
The only thing I can think of is...

Your hot water pipe and cold water pipes run parallel and close to one another. The cold water is warming up from the heat of the cold water pipe.

(Sorry if someone already wrote this....I just replied after reading your initial post)
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