[sde]

Hi. I've been reading these forums for a few weeks for tips on how to do a variety of things. It's such a great resource and this is such an awesome community - kudos to everyone here.

I'm just getting started in learning about home improvement, so please forgive me ignorance. I'm still VERY dumb about this stuff, but I am trying to learn. Seriously, I'm sure my question below is incredibly dumb, but I would be very very pleased if anyone could take a minute to look at it and offer their feedback.

So I'm helping my mom do a variety of renovations around her house, which was built in the early '60s and has never been upgraded. Yesterday, I did an easy fix - I replaced the faucet on her kitchen sink, which had crazy lime buildup and rust and had begun to spray water out of several small holes in the spout. I replaced both the faucet and the two faucet connectors. I turned both the hot and cold water knobs under the sink back on fully (I'd turned the cold one on only halfway originally, but that caused it to leak, so I turned them both on full).

The water pressure for both hot and cold water is now great - and there are no leaks, but the hot water doesn't seem to get nearly as hot as it used to. It's more of a "high warm" than a hot. And I don't quite understand why the temperature would have changed just from replacing the faucet.

In case of it's of any use, the faucet is a three hole, single handle Price Pfister.

Thanks - and sorry for the dumb question (and for wording things incorrectly probably - I'm trying to learn!)

 

[creamaster]

Im no plumber, only a DIYer like yourself but try this...

Turn off the cold water valve under the sink.

Now turn on the faucet all the way to hot and see if the water is hotter.
If so then I think the facet is allowing cold water into the mix when you have it turned to hot.

If the temperature doesnt change after trying this then I would think it is at the water heater. Check if all other faucets are putting out water any warmer.

A meat thermometer would help to get exact temps.

 

[sde]

Thanks for the reply! I turned the water heater up ever so slightly and it had a major difference in how hot the kitchen sink's water is now. Don't know why changing the faucet out affected the temperature - but we had not very good hot water in one of the upstairs showers also, and turning up the water heater half a notch seems to have helped with both this and the kitchen sink problem. So thanks! I love an easy fix like that. Appreciated.

 

[Double A]

My advise is to get a thermometer and check the output temperature of the water heater at the closest two-handle faucet. Run the hot water for a minute or two, and then put a cup under the flow and then measure the water temperature.

The reason I suggest this is to know what the true temperature of your hot water is. Anything hotter than 120 degrees can cause a scald burn in a very short time. Much higher than 120 degrees and it can cause burns in mere moments, perhaps faster than one can realize the water is too hot.

Please measure your hot water temperature for your mom's sake. As we age, we lose a layer of fat under our skin that helps to protect us from scald burns. This typically starts around the age of 55-60. Children under the age of 12 have not developed this layer yet, so they too are more susceptible to scald burns.

As for the kitchen sink replacement causing a change in the heater temperature, its not possible. What is possible, is that a single lever faucet is allowing cold water to the hot water side, even when the faucet is off.

 

[kenmac]

It may have a mixer inside to keep the water from getting too hot.. (Scalding) check your instructions . It should tell you if it has 1 .. Instructions will also tell how to adjust

 

[sde]

this is all so useful - thanks very much! i will do these things tomorrow and report back. thanks again!