HWH Cold Water Hot

Lakee911 · Nov 21, 2005

Installed my new hot water heater this weekend. Noticed when there is no demand that the cold water pipe gets quite warm ... warm a few feet away from the HWH! Seems kind of odd to me. Should I insulate that pipe too for a short section? Anyway to isolate cold from hot? Obviously losing heat this way.... Everything works fine and its not hooked up backwards.

Thanks,
Jason

Jadnashua · Nov 21, 2005

Did you install heat traps when you put it in? These are tubes with a ball in them. WHen there is no flow, the ball seals the tube enough to prevent convective circulation, but the ball moves out of the way when you turn on a faucet. Just don't install them backwards! Anyway, heat will always move from high to low concentrations. You just want to slow it down if you can. My unprofessional opinion.

Sponsor · 2022-01-29T12:20:58-0800

bigrebnc1861 · Nov 21, 2005

Lakee911 said:
Installed my new hot water heater this weekend. Noticed when there is no demand that the cold water pipe gets quite warm ... warm a few feet away from the HWH! Seems kind of odd to me. Should I insulate that pipe too for a short section? Anyway to isolate cold from hot? Obviously losing heat this way.... Everything works fine and its not hooked up backwards.

Thanks,
Jason

You can install a check valve on your cold water feed going into your hot water heater that will prevent any hot water back feeding into your cold water lines.

Lakee911 · Nov 21, 2005

Heat traps were installed in the HWH when it came out of the box. Any other ideas? Would a check valve make much difference? Would this then require an expansion tank?

Thanks,
Jason

Cass · Nov 21, 2005

Yes installation of a check valve would then require you to install an exp. tank. With out a check valve, as the water heats and expands it goes back out toward the street heating the pipe as it travels. Heat trap nipples are just to prevent heat from being conducted/raidiating through the water. They don't help with water expansion.

Mike Swearingen · Nov 25, 2005

You need an expansion tank, especially if you have a closed system with a pressure reducing valve on the main supply line between the meter and the house.
Mike

HWH Cold Water Hot

Lakee911

I&C Engineer (mostly WWTP)

Jadnashua

Retired Defense Industry Engineer xxx

Sponsor

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bigrebnc1861

Plumber

Lakee911

I&C Engineer (mostly WWTP)

Cass

Plumber

Mike Swearingen

New Member

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