hot water when it should be cold

Help! within the last 2 months several faucets in the house have had identity problems...
The cold water faucets produce extremely hot water. This has happened in the kitchen, bathrooms and even in the shower. It does not happen all the time, but probably 60-70% of the time. Sometimes the cold water will come back after a few minutes but sometimes it just stays hot. What in the world is going on?

Larry

You may have a mixing valve that is allowing the water to mix and cross into the cold side. You don't say if you have a boiler with a coil in it. It could be a bad stem in a single lever faucet. start by trying one faucet at a time. see if you can isolate the faucet where it starts.Do you have hot water coming into the toilet?
Dale

Do you have a retrofit recirc system installed? Do you have a termpering valve on the toilet?

The kitchen faucet is a Delta single lever. I replaced all the "guts" of it and still have the problem. The bathroom faucet is a 2 lever (hot & cold each having their own handle). We have a RUUD water heater that is only a few years old. Haven't noticed any hot water into the toilets but will check.

check valve

You can try installing a check valve on the cold water inlet to the water heater. This would require an expansion tank. Maybe you already have an expansion tank? If it sounds full it is a bad tank. The wash machine valve in the washer may be your problem also.
Dale