Hot Water System

Hot Water System FAQ:


Our hot water comes off the heating system. We had it set to the recomended temp of 120 degrees. We would get hot water from the sinks, but not the shower. We have now set the water temp to 200 degrees in order to get the water hot enough at the shower, but now it scalds at the sinks.
I was told it was the valve on the shower. The water selector says “Symmons model B temptrol” and is a single control valve.
Is that faulty? Can we replace it ourselves? We have an access panel behind the shower, so it’s easy to get to. We have no real plumbing experience, but my boyfriend is a mechanic, so he can figure out most home projects.
I know 212 is boiling, I’ve been turning it up to 200 before my shower and back down after.
The shower is closest to the heater. All hot water pipes are insulated. Sink in the bathroom also has good hot water.
I really think it’s the valve, want to know how hard it is to repair? I’d rather not have to call a plumber.

Hot Water System FAQ:


I just had a new bathroom installed by some Polish bathroom fitters. Although the hot water from the taps is very hot, only tepid water comes from the shower - even when it is set to full hot. If I hold the shower head down in the bath the water gets warmer.
I have a traditional gravity fed sytem with hot water tank on the same level as the bathroom (upstairs). The hot water is set to 65 degrees.
I noticed when the shower was being installed that the plumber has connected the cold supply from my old electric shower to the new mixer shower. This cold supply comes down from the ceiling. A new pipe has been made for the hot water which comes up from the bath hot water tap. I’m not sure if this is causing the hot and cold supplies to be unbalanced and this is the problem. The mixer shower is a Mira Gem for balanced pressure systems (which I thought mine was).
Can anyone suggest an easy way to remedy this that doesn’t involve taking the new tiles off the wall if possible?
Thanks for your suggestions. I liked the idea about ajusting the anti-scald device. However the shower is a manual mixer and I can’t find anything in the manual about an anti-scald device so beginning to think it doesn’t have one. Any other suggestions?

Hot Water System FAQ:


We just bought a 100 year old house. It has a new boiler system (we have oil heat and that is what heats our hot water). We turned the heat valve all the way up (145 degrees i think) and our hot water in our shower just isn’t hot enough. Nor the bathtub water. It’s not cold.. it’s warmer than luke warm… but it’s not hot enough for a good bath or a great shower on a cold day… please help!