Shower water warm sometimes (not hot)

Has anyone experienced this? Our shower on the 4th floor is sometimes nice and hot, but sometimes is just warm. We also have to run cold water for a few minutes before any hot water comes out, but I think I understand that is just the pipes flushing out the sitting cold water (and that there are solutions for this). But I can’t figure out why a shower would be hot sometimes and just warm sometimes. We have a typical gas water heater (two of them). If the water heater is supplying hot water, shouldn’t it always be at more or less at the same temperature?

xuytbjicwnofjdde

in General Discussion 1 year and 3 months ago

6

Please log in, in order to post replies!

6 replies

Newest Oldest

lkrshacmzcy | 1 year and 3 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4858 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4867 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "209518"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(11) "lkrshacmzcy"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$Bqvt72Mt4bRnZYx4l2.8v65b1dA59S/"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(11) "lkrshacmzcy"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(22) "artjimenez78@gmail.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2024-07-02 16:32:25"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(11) "lkrshacmzcy"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(209518)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(1) {
    [0]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

I also want to establish that I welcome a qualification or expertise check; I literally say (or write) in every post that a homeowner should do that with all companies they are vetting to work with.

lkrshacmzcy | 1 year and 3 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4857 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4856 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "209518"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(11) "lkrshacmzcy"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$Bqvt72Mt4bRnZYx4l2.8v65b1dA59S/"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(11) "lkrshacmzcy"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(22) "artjimenez78@gmail.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2024-07-02 16:32:25"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(11) "lkrshacmzcy"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(209518)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(1) {
    [0]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

I am not a Licensed Master Plumber myself; I work for a Licensed Plumbing Company. If you do see though, I never suggest to call the company I work with; I suggest to call a Plumbing Company instead since 60% of our business is fixing DIY projects and I try to help prevent that. If you don’t have an idea of why a shower may have temperature issues, or why one radiator in your house is not getting hot, then I believe you are not at the DIY level capability so I suggest calling a Plumber before you make a small problem worse…or bang your head on a wall like crazy.
For me, I have all of the qualify marks to be able to embark on the New York City Master Plumber License Process. I passed the New York City Master Plumber License Written Exam. I have not taken the Practical Exam yet and am in the (extremely expensive) practicing phase.
In essence, one step away from that label!

Guest User | 1 year and 3 months ago

string(1) "3"
string(6) "201692"

Urban dad… just look up Petri Plumbing on the NYC DOB website
https://a810-bisweb.nyc.gov/bisweb/LicenseQueryServlet?licensetype=P&licno=001301&requestid=1
Or maybe go to Petri plumbing’s website
https://www.petriplumbing.com/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=gmb&utm_c
ampaign=local
BTW what are your qualifications ?

hkapstein | 1 year and 3 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#5109 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#5110 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "197623"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(9) "hkapstein"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$Bi/rarQU.AidQ5DWnWIzXSi7UikLcx/"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(31) "boerumamaemailnotprovided-local"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(19) "hkapstein@gmail.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2018-06-15 18:43:24"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(14) "Helen Kapstein"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(197623)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(1) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(3) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

If you’ve been running the water on a lower floor there could be hot water in the piping sometimes and not others. As Chris John has suggested there could be an issue with a pressure balancing or thermostatic supply valve if you have one, although it’s not clear. Mx. John suggests you call in a plumber. Now I can’t help but notice that there is neither a Chris Petri, nor a Chris John listed as a NYC master plumber. Having followed your posts for years, I’d love to hear more about your background and plumbing experience.

xuytbjicwnofjdde | 1 year and 3 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#5112 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#5111 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "209569"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(16) "xuytbjicwnofjdde"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BKI3.h45rPk/4Og33ELijOlmUDXZlb/"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(16) "xuytbjicwnofjdde"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(18) "wppolson@gmail.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2024-07-03 15:26:41"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(16) "xuytbjicwnofjdde"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(209569)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(1) {
    [0]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

It’s not really a new issue – we’ve just been tolerating it! But now I need to solve it. And I thought hot water that has been sitting in the hot water line cools down as nobody is using the hot water, thus becomes cold and needs to flow out before fresh hot water from the water heater reaches the faucet / shower head, no?

lkrshacmzcy | 1 year and 3 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4858 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#5117 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "209518"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(11) "lkrshacmzcy"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$Bqvt72Mt4bRnZYx4l2.8v65b1dA59S/"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(11) "lkrshacmzcy"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(22) "artjimenez78@gmail.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2024-07-02 16:32:25"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(11) "lkrshacmzcy"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(209518)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(1) {
    [0]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

If it is the only area where you are experiencing this, and it is a new problem, you can normally begin looking at the Shower Valve as the culprit.
I would suggest calling in a Plumber though as they know the direction and will not lose time on dead ends…for instance there should never be “cold water sitting in pipes” in your Hot Supply Line!