All of a sudden, it's taking about two minutes to get hot water from the hot water faucet. The manager tells me that their plumber said there's no problem...it's because my apartment is the distance it is from the water heater. But my apartment hasn't moved in the nearly 25 years I've been living here. What's going on?

 

The Manager could be correct. There may have been a change in the times hot water is used in your building. Look at it this way. You are a significent distance away from the water heater. The other tenants USED to use hot water at a different time than they now do. The hot water lines USED to be full of hot water most of the time. Now that they are not being used at the same time, the water has time to cool down. You are the only one calling for hot water so it has to come all the way from the heater to get to you. This could be remedied by installing a circulating pump but you would have to talk the Manager into having it installed. Good luck.

 

Is this problem confined to one fixture? If that is the case thats where you look. If this is a new problem the ["plumber"] and the manager don't know what they are talking about! Have they moved the water heater? This is the best that I can do with the info. Re-post with more information and I might be able to help. Sorry this is the best that I can do.

 

A similar problem happened several years ago, when someone on the top floor did some major plumbing. I think they said at the time that the problem was that air got into the line and everyone below that apartment was having problems. After a major wrestling match with the manager, they had someone check it and correct it. But I wasn't the only one complaining. I haven't checked yet with my upstairs and downstairs neighbors to see if they, too are having problems--probably will check tomorrow. The manager also tried to tell me that it was my faucet!

The kitchen is where I'm having problems. The water pressure is also not as strong. The bathroom sink is fine and so is the bathtub.

Thanks for the help!

 

I just remembered that this all started after they made some boiler repairs!

 

If air was in the lines, you would know it. Air is not the problem. But you said the hot water runs slow? THAT is your problem. No wonder it takes so long. If water only comes out half as fast, let's say, then the time for the water to get hot would raise from 1 minute to 2 minutes, for example.

Perhaps when they worked on the boiler, sediment/rust scale broke loose, found it's way into your line and jammed up either in your faucet or a typical location is at a shut off valve under the sink, where the pipe reduces in size from 1/2 inch I.D. down to 3/8 inch O.D. (quite a sizeable reduction if you look at the reduction).

First of all, check with your neighbors to see if they too have the problem. Especially the ones upstream, toward the water heater/boiler. If they do, then the location is not where I said, unless every person had the same thing happen...and I doubt it. Check with people who are closer to the boiler/water heater. If those people have the same problem, then the problem is at an elbow or valve in the pipe somewhere upstream of the last person you check with, that is closest to the systems.

But if YOU are the only one, then I would have the water shut off BEFORE the shut off valve. Then remove the supply line going from the undersink shut off valve (do you have one?). Then, open up the shut off valve (Caution: You must know for a fact that water has been shut off to your apartment first, for cold and hot water!). Then use a metal coat hanger and ream around down the valve if you have a straight valve (this won't work on a 90-degree valve). Then, if you can buy another flexible supply tube (one of those flexible plastic ones plus it needs the ferrule and nut to go with it)), and screw *it* to the valve . Then shut off the valve. Then open up the apartment water valve. Then aim the supply tube in a pail and then, while holding the supply tube in the pail, turn on the valve and count the seconds it takes to fill a given amount and see how much comes out, and if rust chunks come out. Then, undo this whole thing and rehook up the supply line to the faucet and then do the same timed test out the faucet with the aerator unscrewed off the faucet (ummm...is it just the hot water flow that is reduced? If both hot and cold are reduced, then it's simply your aerator that got clogged and needs to be cleaned!!!!) and note the amount of water. Then you will have your answer as to what is going on, and/or if you flushed out the problem sediment.