heating problem

Tim Carroll

I have a summer/winter hook-up. It's 21 years old. The shower water starts out hot, then turns cold, then hot, etc. This is a recent problem. Also, the system runs three zones (3 circulators, of which I only use one) and the one circulator that I do use, always seems to be running. Last month I used 200 gallons of oil, it used to be much more efficient. I'm not in the construction trade so I'm not that knowlegable in these matters. Any suggestions, comments. Thank you.

Mike Kraft_2

It sounds like............

you have a tankless coil.You mention summer/winter.What heats your hot water in the summer?The boiler coil may need to be cleaned or replaced.A better solution would be to consider an indirect hot water tank.This is a year round solution efficient and would eliminate the problems you have mentioned.21 years is a long time:)

The indirect is a tank of cold water.This vessel is insulated for minimal loss of your heated water during standby.The vessel also has a large coil inside which will allow the boiler to circulate hot water through it.This in turn transfers the heat from the coil to the cold water in the tank.This is called a "heat exchanger"or HX.Very efficient and good for the boilers components to run year round.

cheese

Ken_15

If you have the same water flow from the domestic hot and cold then your problem sounds like a mixing valve issue. Very simple procedure to replace the old one.

Bob Gagnon plumbing and heating

quick temporary fix

if you have a tankless, is to slow the flow of hot water through the coil by turning the volume down on your shower valve when using it. the water going through the coil slower allows it to get hotter. but it will take a minute or two to get to your shower though. then you could eventually put in a storage tank. bob