hot water......stumped

Steve the Plumber

Alright,....I'm a plumber of 8 years experience, and I have a hot water problem in my own house, and I feel like I need to call a plumber. Does this sound right??

anyway, I have a showerstall(no bathtub) in my bathroom with a simple two handle showerbody. when you first turn on both handles, the water is nice and hot for about 2 or 3 minutes, then Ice Cold. The only way to get hot water is to COMPLETELY turn off the cold water. Then the water is full temp hot. I already changed both spindle assemblies.
The lav works fine, the kitchen faucet 10' away works fine. The hot water heater is right below the bathroom, its the first thing off the line. This has been happening for about 2 months now and I'm completely stumped.
The hot water heater has an angle valve on the hot water side, but I gutted it. I also checked to see if the body had any obstructions, but it didn't. The pressure in both lines seems to be equal too. Any Ideas??
----------------------------Thanks Steve

Frank_17

what tpye?

> Alright,....I'm a plumber of 8 years experience,

> and I have a hot water problem in my own house,

> and I feel like I need to call a plumber. Does

> this sound right??

>

> anyway, I have a

> showerstall(no bathtub) in my bathroom with a

> simple two handle showerbody. when you first turn

> on both handles, the water is nice and hot for

> about 2 or 3 minutes, then Ice Cold. The only way

> to get hot water is to COMPLETELY turn off the

> cold water. Then the water is full temp hot. I

> already changed both spindle assemblies. The

> lav works fine, the kitchen faucet 10' away works

> fine. The hot water heater is right below the

> bathroom, its the first thing off the line. This

> has been happening for about 2 months now and I'm

> completely stumped. The hot water heater has

> an angle valve on the hot water side, but I

> gutted it. I also checked to see if the body had

> any obstructions, but it didn't. The pressure in

> both lines seems to be equal too. Any

> Ideas?? ----------------------------Thanks Steve

Frank_17

what type?

Delta????????
if so change brands
where do you get hot water, electric,coil, boiler mate?

scottPW

Dip tube?

If you didnt say that when you turn cold completely off you get full temp hot I would say this sounds like a classic case of a broken or rotted dip tube on the water heater. You'd get fine hot water for 3 min. then run out and have to shut off cold water, but it would just get progressively colder not full temp hot again... so, i guess im stumped too! call a plumber

RonRG

Domestic hot water problem

Try turning valves closed at automatic washer.I have had cold water feed into hot at that point. 2or3 min. sems that it could some distance away from shower had this happen a fewtimes hope this helps. Riggy

skinnyd_2

Does the shower have a mixing valve or some sort of anti-scald valve in it that could be bad or be plugged on the hot side?

ScottMP

Steve

Number one you should be putting in a anti-scald/preasure balancing shower valve on all your jobs. Its just good practice and here in MASS its code.

If no one else is using any water in the house , I think you may have a cross conection somewhere. Riggy could be on to something. Next shower ( hope its tonight ) turn off the Washing Machine connection. Any other bathrooms ? I had an old Moen Kitchen faucet that was mixing the water when it was off ?? Go figure. Somthing is mixer in the house, you just need to find it.

You just the plumber to find it, don't call anyone else.

Good Luck

Scott

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Bob Cat_2

change the washer

The rubber washer that compresses against the seat is expanding as the water gets hot(closing off the port). When you have it on hot only do you have to open it wide to get water pressure? I've had this problem before and I mananaged to solve it with beveled washers.

good Luck

BobCat

steve_6

I agree with bobcat, I've seen this before also. I doubt that its a dip tube, but check your aerators for bits of white plastic. if you find it, your dip tube is bad. I'd make life easier and change the faucet out.