traff_ss
05-13-2007, 09:19 AM
Yesterday, I replaced a gas water heater. Everything went okay, except I noticed something weird. After shutting off the gas and the cold water supply into the tank, I hooked up a drain hose and started draining the tank. I then unattached the hot water line (output) to help the tank drain quicker, and put a bucket under the line since I have a two-story house and I figured there would be water in the line.
To my surprise, there was A LOT of water, under pressure, coming out of the hot water line. In fact, I had to run out and shut off the main before I filled the bucket. Obviously, cold water is feeding into the hot water circuit at some point. I have an old house, but all of my fixtures are pretty new (most in the past two years).
I tried an experiment: I went around the house and shut off all fixture cut-offs...hot and cold, for all sinks, toilets, washer, etc. The only one I could not shut off was the upstairs shower (there is no cut-off). I turned the main back on, and I still had a steady stream of cold water coming out of the hot water line.
Anyone ever see this? Any ideas on how to fix?
thanks,
tom
To my surprise, there was A LOT of water, under pressure, coming out of the hot water line. In fact, I had to run out and shut off the main before I filled the bucket. Obviously, cold water is feeding into the hot water circuit at some point. I have an old house, but all of my fixtures are pretty new (most in the past two years).
I tried an experiment: I went around the house and shut off all fixture cut-offs...hot and cold, for all sinks, toilets, washer, etc. The only one I could not shut off was the upstairs shower (there is no cut-off). I turned the main back on, and I still had a steady stream of cold water coming out of the hot water line.
Anyone ever see this? Any ideas on how to fix?
thanks,
tom