Hi.

We recently moved into our house. It has a new water heater/tank that was installed within the last year. It takes several minutes for the water to warm up at the sinks etc. But once it does its plenty warm. Is there something we can adjust to get this moving along a little faster. I literally takes 2-4 minutes at the sink.

I attached a pic of the water heater control panel. I just adjusted the max heat from "hot" to "b". I know this raises the max temp but I was hoping it might do the trick. Am I heading in the right direction with this or is there something else we need to do to get hot water to the faucets quicker?


thank you.

 

Unfortunately raising the temperature won't help it get there any faster but it will cost a bit more to keep it that hot.

A friend of mine is in a big ranch. Water heater at one end and the fixtures mostly at the other end. Brilliant planning. He installed a small circulator pump inside the vanity at the furthest point. What is does is pumps a small bit of water from the hot side into the cold side until the hot side gets warm/hot (depending on setting) and then shuts off. This can allow for a few seconds of warm water when using the cold but clears quickly.

 

Great = (. I will go through all of the faucets tomorrow and see if it gets to any of them faster than the others. Our gas bill is already through the roof so I am going to turn that temp back down then. Thank you.

 

Keeping hot water full time in the hot water line will also cost a bit as that water needs to be heated too. I think my friend put a timer on that pump to come on a half hour before it was needed in the AM.

 

I would also use pipe insulation on all your hot water piping. at least on the areas that are exposed.
How many floors are there to your home?
What kind of distance does the piping need to go before it reaches the nearest and farthest faucet?
If your electrical system allows for it, you might consider an instant water heater at the shower area.
What is the possibilities of relocating the HW tank closer to fixture feed lines?

 

Here is video of under sink pump install. Tried to find a kit put must of used wrong words in search.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lE2QFLlEXNw

 

It is three stories. The water heater is in the garage and is actually quite close to the 1st floor bathroom and kitchen which is why I am a little surprised. I will have to poke around a bit tomorrow and take a look at the pipes.

How does the piping work? Does it come directly from the water heater to the kitchen and 1st floor bathroom or does it go to a centralized place first? Thanks!

 

The piping tales the most direct route.
If your kitchen is closest.... it gets the hot water quickest.

 

3 stories is a longways to go. And the fact that the heater is located in the garage makes for inefficient operation during cold weather. A basement might better, but location on the first floor would be the best location. Even if the heater is near the kitchen faucet, all the cold water sitting in the pipe must be flushed out before hot water will arrive. Even in my house where the tank is right below the 1st floor bathroom, it will take about 30 secs to feel hot water come through the faucet.

How old is the home, or I should say what condition is the piping in.? If the piping is old cast iron then it may be very corroded inside allowing only a small volume to flow through. Do you get fast or full flow from all your faucets?

Again depending on you electrical supply, an instant heater might be your answer.

 

Easiest is a watts recirc pump...

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Watts-Water...RoCUSMQAvD_BwE

Pump goes at water heater, and check valve goes under sink on upper floor..

Sometimes additional check valves are needed....

 

Will probably have to get a recirc pump. Will wait until summer maybe to see if it improves. Our home was built in 2003 and is in very good shape. We have strong water flow to every faucet throughout the home. But it literally takes 2-4 minutes to get hot water at some times which is way too long. It has been in the 30s and 40s lately so maybe its 50 deg or so in the garage. I didn't really see anywhere I could insulate the pipes. I assume it would just be the bendable pipes coming out of the top of the unit? thank you

I attached some more pictures of the heater in the garage. I have no clue where these pipes go after they meet the wall.

 

Yeah you have it easy with the watts pump since you have flex lines on the heater...

Just unscrew the hot side, install pump on hot side nipple, then reconnect flex line to pump..

Then install check valve under 3rd floor sink...

Plug pump in...

Youll have hot water instantly as soon as you turn on the faucet...

 

Just a side note, when you turn on the faucet, make sure you're turning it on hot only at first. You'll get hot water quicker than if you turn on the faucet to warm, as only 50% of the hot water is coming through, and will take twice as long.