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How can we stop the temperature of our hot water changing?
We have a Worcester 24i combi boiler.
When we run the hot water or the shower the temperature fluctuates from really hot to really cold. As you can imagine this is fairly annoying!
What could be causing it and how do we fix it?
We've only been here a few months and it's done it since we moved in. I haven't asked the owners/previous tenants whether it did it for them but I would assume so.
It happens more in the shower (not electric, just a variable temperature knob, so a mixture of hot and cold water to make the right temperature) than on the taps but it will happen when just the hot water tap is on too.
It happens when it's just one person in the flat so it can't be that someone else is turning the water on. That was our original thought too. The boiler heats only our water so it can't be someone next door either (only two flats in the building).
2 Answers
- HoneyLv 78 years agoFavorite Answer
The problem is caused by fluctuating pressures in the hot and cold lines: you have your shower adjusted to a "just right" temperature, then someone sharing the same cold water supply source flushes a toilet or turns a tub faucet full on. The cold water pressure drops abruptly and you're scalding in your shower. You adjust the temp again, the remote toilet finishes filling, cold water pressure builds back up and you're shivering in your shower.
You may get some relief by installing a check valve on the main cold water supply line into your unit. This will prevent cold water pressure in your place from rushing backwards in response to a sudden pressure drop outside. You can also replace your shower faucet with a burn-prevention style faucet. It won't prevent the chills but will prevent you from being scalded.
The only way to totally get around the problem (and may not be possible in your case) is to arrange to have your own private, dedicated 1" water supply line direct from the city main line. We did it one time when we lived in a 4-plex and it solved the problem but in that case, we had title to our own unit so were able to convince the city they owed us the right to connect directly (at our expense of course).
- 8 years ago
Has it always done this? If you just run one hot tap is it steady? How about 2 hot taps at the same time?
EDIT - questions answered...
If it happens with just a hot tap open it's not to do with balancing a mixer valve, it sounds like a boiler problem I'm afraid. Most good boiler repair people will charge a diagnostic fee to find the problem, which usually includes the first hour of labour too. A recommendation from a friend is your best bet for finding someone decent. If your problem sounds like this - http://www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=23520... then it seems likely a blocked heat exchanger is the problem. If your boiler hasn't been serviced in a while it's worth getting it done - will save on your gas bill and increase the lifetime of the boiler/system. A proper/full service will include cleaning the heat exchanger if it needs it (but don't just ask for a service without telling them you've got a problem, that just annoys them!)
