Water heater runs, but no hot water

[lee4095]

This is a problem I fixed but thought it would be useful to mention it in case someone else had this problem. The gas water heater ran and the water seemed to get hot. However, when I ran the hot faucets (sink, shower), only cold water came out with an occasional hint of warm water.

Long story short, it was the outside shower head fixture. I had both shower faucets turned on for winterizing, but didn't turn them off (the water didn't run because the shower head has a valve). So, the hot and cold water lines were linked through the mixer valve, which resulted in a bypass of the hot water heater - when I turned on the hot faucet in the sink, the cold water ran through this mixer into the hot line.

It took me a lot of frustrating time to find this.

[wa8yxm]

Many folks have said that.. I was at one of my summer campgrounds and one of my fellow campers was singing his song of water heater woe...

Even calling customer service had not helped. He was going to call a repair person that day.. I ask if he'd used the outside shower. He had. It was thus quickly fixed.

[Old-Biscuit]

Bypass valve and shower heads.....notorious for cold/warm 'HOT' water issues.

I applaud you on your 'investigative' skills!
When you figure out the cause on your own it is a lesson learned that rarely gets repeated.

Good job!

[1492]

Moved from Forum Technical Support

[TucsonJim]

I thought everybody knew that when you don't have hot water to immediately go to the outside shower. It's only common sense! LOL. I would have never thought of that one. Good find.

[PapPappy]

See....you should have asked right away...that is what I was going to suggest!
Been there, done that....only I had it in the shower inside (head was turned off):)