any Plumbers on here?
Submitted by Bodie on Sun, 2011-07-03 12:25
Anyone a plumber by any chance?
Have got a problem with my hotwater system, where the water wont heat hot enough. Reading the manual says it should heat to 60-70 degrees, but when i check with a thermometer only gets to about 46 in the kitchen, and 40 in the 2 bathrooms. have it turned up to the highest setting on the dial on the hotwater unit
Anyone have any experience with Rheem hotwater systems?
The only info I've been told is that if the thermometer on the system was the problem i wouldnt have any hotwater at all?
Its a gas heated hotwater system and seems to kick the gas in ok and heat.
Any help would be appreciated!
Thanks
thesupervisor
Posts: 1137
Date Joined: 10/06/09
could be a dodgy tempering
could be a dodgy tempering valve but im no expert i would wait untill monday and call a plumber
they seem to get more expensive than they already are on weekends
i used this guy recently cost me $140 for a service to fix a simalr prob to yours
general gas 94518029
getting the bottom line final answer from a bunch of blokes that use false names and put smiley faces at the end of paragraphs is not the best place in the world to get the information you seek.
HuggyB
Posts: 2515
Date Joined: 03/08/08
Thats as hot as it should get in your house
the tempering valve will drop it to around 50C - I think the Aust Standards state a maximum of 55C at the tap.
Any hotter than that at the tap and you are in scold territory.
The Terrorist - coming to a fishing spot near you.........
ADDICT- dUFFMAN
Posts: 426
Date Joined: 29/05/10
sure im only 18
but my dads only had 50years plumbing expirence :P
he gave me the run down.
Depending on the age of the house, if its an old house it wont have a tempering valve firstly.
And then the problem would be one of two things:
a dodgy thermostat - that wouldn't regulate the temperture to correct settings - (this is the more unlikely of the two)
or a burst pipe which wont allow the temperture to reach the maximum as water is constantly being lost. (So if it is an old house have a listen for a leak, or any hot or sunken bricks around the heater where it maybe leaking)
Cheers Duffman
winner winner chicken dinner
Reelax
Posts: 60
Date Joined: 22/12/09
Tempered Hot Water
Gday Bodie,
If its a newish home you probably have a few Temperature Mixing Valves around which are feeding those two areas. Look outside near your bathrooms etc... and look for a 'T' shape brass assembly (generally silver in colour depending upon the brand) with a coloured cap on the top. This cap comes off and you can adjust the valve with some pliers whilst running the water (the valve will be marked with H for hot water, C for cold water and M for the mixed line which feeds that area). The valves vary and adjusting it anti clock wise should do the trick, if you hold the mixed line you will feel the variation.
Just google Temperature Mixing Valves (images) and that should show what your looking for. I have had many years in the hot water industry.
Reelax.
GOEN FISHN, BACK WHEN I'M DAM WELL READY...
Bodie
Posts: 3758
Date Joined: 05/11/07
Hi Reelax Thanks mate, this
Hi Reelax
Thanks mate, this is exactly what i where i thought the problem was. I can only find one of those brass assembly's on the side of the hotwater system itself. Didnt know which way to turn the little triangle valve, or if it actually did anything when turned. Is it common to have more than one of these tempreture mixing valves?
Will give it a crack tonight going anti clock wise.
Huggyb the water coming out of the 2nd bathroom is only at 38-40 degrees which is quite cool. The kitchen seems to be the hottest at 46ish.
The hotwater system is about 7-8 years old.
HuggyB
Posts: 2515
Date Joined: 03/08/08
does the water have further to travel
to get to the bathroom? If so, maybe insulate your pipes to minimise heat loss rather than unecessarily cranking up your water heater and using more gas?
The Terrorist - coming to a fishing spot near you.........
Reelax
Posts: 60
Date Joined: 22/12/09
Temp Mixing Valves
Gday Bodie,
Generally turning the triangle anti clock wise is the way, but whilst you are turning it hold onto the mixed line (marked M) and if the tank water is hot you will begin to feel if its getting colder or hotter going into the home, then you know which is way to turn it for hotter water or cooler water. Turn the triangle as far as it can go.
If the mixing valve is directly off the hot water unit and you cant see any other hot water lines teed off b4 the mixing valve, then this is the only one for the whole home. It does seem very odd though that you are getting variations at different points.
Occasionally (not very common) the taps have a temp mixer built into it.
What suburb do you live in ?
Reelax.
GOEN FISHN, BACK WHEN I'M DAM WELL READY...
Bodie
Posts: 3758
Date Joined: 05/11/07
am In Bertram.
am In Bertram.
Bodie
Posts: 3758
Date Joined: 05/11/07
Reelax mate, you were spot
Reelax mate, you were spot on, thanks for the info!
rotated the value all the way anti-clock wise and managed to get another 10 degrees out of the hot water up at 50-52c. That should stop the house mates whinging!!
Thanks mate.
Reelax
Posts: 60
Date Joined: 22/12/09
Temp Mixing Valves
Gday Bodie,
No worries mate, is that your boat in the picture ? Im a mad keen landbased fisho with a Nissn Patrol, I live up North of Wanneroo in Sinagra and head up that way mostly to fish.
I was a deckie on a cray boat for 3 years in my younger days so if you do have a boat and req a deckie (ive recently brought some light jigging gear which needs a good run) or if you ever want to catch up and do some fishn north beach or boat give us a hollar.
My email is >
GOEN FISHN, BACK WHEN I'M DAM WELL READY...
Bodie
Posts: 3758
Date Joined: 05/11/07
Ah your email address shows
Ah your email address shows why you know your stuff about hot water systems!
Just sent you an email with my details, yep is my boat in the picture (26ft Fury console). Always looking for deckies when heading up your way, two rocks etc.. Will give you a bell when up tha way.
Cheers