I recently bought a new home in Florida. When I turn on the cold water at all inside faucets, I get hot water. Eventually the water turns cold. If I turn off and turn on again I get hot water then cold. Same when I flush tolits. Any ideas what is wrong and possible solution.
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living in florida could it be the water left in the lines gets warm?
When using the cold water, it gets hot for a few moments & then turns cold again....right? Does it also happen at night?
Your problem likely lies with the piping being too close to the surface in the yard, or possibly running by a window in your basement. Follow the cold water piping and find out where it's getting the SUN.
Another possibility is that it's running too close to your hot water pipes.
Possible solutions:
Yard
If you can, add shade trees in the yard where the pipes run through (keep in mind the pipes location & that roots can rip them up). This will only help some, as in, you'll likely get warm water, rather then hot...but it's better then nothing.
These pipes, if I am not mistaken, need to be 18 inches below ground. If they are not, call your local water plant (you are getting municple water correct?) and ask them for their regulations on the matter. Do NOT tell them your problem, till you find out if it's their responcibility or yours...heh, they could make you lower them & that cost can get well, costly...
But if it is their job, they'll do it for free...
Inside
You may also be able to insulate your pipes (inside or out) if they are getting exposed to any heat (heater, hot water pipes, sun, etc) or you could possibly move them over a bit so they are away from the source of the heat.
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Don't call a plumber unless you have too...they can cost you $35 an hour or more...for something you may be able to do yourself.
You can pick up insulation at any hardware store and it's instulation is not all that hard. Likewise you can likely turn off your water & add an extension or two to move the piping over a foot to get it away from the heat. Adding an extender (a straight pipe) is not all that hard & will cost you less then $20 + time.
(and don't forget to call MISSDIG if you are planning on working with the pipes in the yard)
If you have single lever faucets, there may be a problem within the faucet itself switching from hot to cold.
It's likely that the water pipes are not very deep and the heat (outside temperature) has heated up the pipes. The water is hot first because it's leaving the pipes before the water from the main can cool the pipes down. We have that same problem in Texas.
Hello, I live in Florida, on the SW Gulf Coast and we have the same problem here. I think it's just that it gets so hot out which in turn makes the pipes hot that it takes awhile for the water to turn cold. If and when the weather gets a little bit cooler, the problem should go away. Meanwhile, keep water in your fridge for cold drinking water. It's too expensive to let the water run long enough to cool off and be drinkable.
It may just be that the pipes run to close together in the house....wrapping the cold pipe and/or hot will help it retain it's proper temp.
I have a single shower handle that when you turn it counter clockwise its from cold to hot. When I have it turn to cold, I immediately get scorching hot water. I am wondering if I need a new water heater or need to replace the shower handle?
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