plumbing talk: washing machine hot water.

Mole177 · 04-28-09, 02:03 PM

laundry room is in the garage.

when i start the machine for hot water wash, just a trickle of hot water comes out.

i unplugged the hose from hot water faucet to see if there is debris. none.

the sink that shares the hot water line with the machine is also weak, as if something is blocking.

rest of the house gets hot water fine.

can copper pipes get blockage inside the pipe?

hot water heater is in the same room as washing machine.

Jeeden · 04-28-09, 02:47 PM

Are you on a well or city? I'll assume city, I would think there can't be too much sediment in that water, but you can get mineral deposits.

Is there a filter near the hot water heater that might need to be changed?
Is there good hot water pressure in the rest of the house?
How old is the hot water heater?

crazyronin · 04-28-09, 03:42 PM

I would also check the screen that is right inside the washer (right after you remove the hose) and unscrew the screen on the faucet to check for crud build up

emanon · 04-28-09, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeeden

Are you on a well or city? I'll assume city, I would think there can't be too much sediment in that water, but you can get mineral deposits.

Is there a filter near the hot water heater that might need to be changed?
Is there good hot water pressure in the rest of the house?
How old is the hot water heater?

gmanca · 04-28-09, 05:14 PM

Only thing I can think of is if the washer and sink are new additions, it's possible that the pipes have fittings or are themselves not of the same metal so that there's a reaction with any rust or minerals causing a blockage exclusively to that outlet.

Mole177 · 04-28-09, 07:02 PM

i unhooked the hose and tested to see if there was build up, but its clear.

im on city pressure

Mole177 · 04-28-09, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeeden

Are you on a well or city? I'll assume city, I would think there can't be too much sediment in that water, but you can get mineral deposits.

Is there a filter near the hot water heater that might need to be changed?
Is there good hot water pressure in the rest of the house?
How old is the hot water heater?

no hot water filter. rest of the house gets hot water at full pressure.

water heater is approx 10 years.

Jeeden · 04-29-09, 09:53 AM

I'm thinking the valve in the washer has had it or there is a clog in the machine. To be sure, you can unhook the hose from the washer, put it in a bucket and turn the water on and see what kind of flow you get.

Are you getting normal pressure of cold water through the machine?

SuperJim88 · 04-29-09, 05:34 PM

This is somewhat related so I think I'm not

. One of the green initiatives is to get people quit washing with hot water because it waste energy and cold water does just as good of a job. Just a thought.

grenier · 04-29-09, 09:05 PM

Is there a shutoff valve for that line? If there is, make sure it's fully open.

Mole177 · 04-30-09, 04:48 PM

yeah, valves are open.

grenier · 04-30-09, 09:49 PM

Did you try closing them al the way and then reopening? Maybe there's some funk buildup.

kuroiinu · 04-30-09, 10:32 PM

It could be the water inlet valve to the washer, which acts as a mixing valve to make warm water.

But if you are sure that the sink next to the washer also has weak hot water, then it looks like there is some blockage ahead of the washer. Can you break into the line somewhere between the water heater and the sink or washer, and try to flush it out?

Mole177 · 04-30-09, 11:13 PM

i am sure it's not the mixing valve. I've worked on washing machines.

would things make sense if the house recirculator is broken?

Heat · 11-22-09, 09:20 PM

Did you ever fix the problem?

I had this issue for years but it really wasn't a big deal since we normally wash our clothes in cold water. Turned out to be debris in the hose (caught in the filter).

Try this: disconnect the hot water hose and hook up a garden hose, running to a bucket, toilet, or whatever. Turn on the water. Is it still a trickle?

Mole177 · 11-23-09, 12:16 AM

yeah...still slow.

I'll do the hose thing this comming weekend if i have time.

Superman07 · 11-23-09, 07:23 AM

Our washer does the same thing. Hot water barely comes out, warm a little more and then cold just pours out. I just assumed it was a "feature" of the washer.

Heat · 11-23-09, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Superman07

Our washer does the same thing. Hot water barely comes out, warm a little more and then cold just pours out. I just assumed it was a "feature" of the washer.

Unscrew the hot water hose from wall and look inside. There'll be a little screen, make sure it's not clogged up.

emanon · 11-23-09, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heat

Did you ever fix the problem?

I had this issue for years but it really wasn't a big deal since we normally wash our clothes in cold water. Turned out to be debris in the hose (caught in the filter).

Try this: disconnect the hot water hose and hook up a garden hose, running to a bucket, toilet, or whatever. Turn on the water. Is it still a trickle?

Did you appreciate my earlier reply in this thread?

Heat · 11-23-09, 09:54 AM

I saw it and yes, nice. Hopefully there is one less person calling it a hot water heater now.

Mole177 · 11-23-09, 07:37 PM

can build up of lime and all that crud happen in copper pipes?

i'm trying to figure out where else can the clog be, since hot water delivery for the rest of the house is strong and hot.

grenier · 11-23-09, 09:32 PM

I saw an episode of This Old House years ago where the copper pipes had build up inside due to excess flux when the pipes were sweated together. The flux reacted with the copper in some weird way.

04-28-09, 02:03 PM	#1
Mole177 DVD Talk Ultimate Edition Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Glendale, Ca Posts: 4,323	plumbing talk: washing machine hot water. laundry room is in the garage. when i start the machine for hot water wash, just a trickle of hot water comes out. i unplugged the hose from hot water faucet to see if there is debris. none. the sink that shares the hot water line with the machine is also weak, as if something is blocking. rest of the house gets hot water fine. can copper pipes get blockage inside the pipe? hot water heater is in the same room as washing machine. __________________ When I read about the evils of drinking, I gave up reading. My Countdown Counting down to: huh? yay!

04-28-09, 02:47 PM	#2
Jeeden DVD Talk Special Edition Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Northern VA Posts: 1,327	Re: plumbing talk: washing machine hot water. Are you on a well or city? I'll assume city, I would think there can't be too much sediment in that water, but you can get mineral deposits. Is there a filter near the hot water heater that might need to be changed? Is there good hot water pressure in the rest of the house? How old is the hot water heater?

04-28-09, 03:42 PM	#3
crazyronin DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Working for Gizmonic Institute Posts: 9,332	Re: plumbing talk: washing machine hot water. I would also check the screen that is right inside the washer (right after you remove the hose) and unscrew the screen on the faucet to check for crud build up __________________ Mencken's Law: "Whenever A annoys or injures B on the pretense of saving or improving X, A is a scoundrel."

04-28-09, 05:14 PM	#5
gmanca DVD Talk Platinum Edition Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 3,298	Re: plumbing talk: washing machine hot water. Only thing I can think of is if the washer and sink are new additions, it's possible that the pipes have fittings or are themselves not of the same metal so that there's a reaction with any rust or minerals causing a blockage exclusively to that outlet.

04-28-09, 07:02 PM	#6
Mole177 DVD Talk Ultimate Edition Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Glendale, Ca Posts: 4,323	Re: plumbing talk: washing machine hot water. i unhooked the hose and tested to see if there was build up, but its clear. im on city pressure __________________ When I read about the evils of drinking, I gave up reading. My Countdown Counting down to: huh? yay!

04-29-09, 09:53 AM	#8
Jeeden DVD Talk Special Edition Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Northern VA Posts: 1,327	Re: plumbing talk: washing machine hot water. I'm thinking the valve in the washer has had it or there is a clog in the machine. To be sure, you can unhook the hose from the washer, put it in a bucket and turn the water on and see what kind of flow you get. Are you getting normal pressure of cold water through the machine?

04-29-09, 05:34 PM	#9
SuperJim88 DVD Talk Gold Edition Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Earth Posts: 2,706	Re: plumbing talk: washing machine hot water. This is somewhat related so I think I'm not . One of the green initiatives is to get people quit washing with hot water because it waste energy and cold water does just as good of a job. Just a thought.

04-29-09, 09:05 PM	#10
grenier Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 885	Re: plumbing talk: washing machine hot water. Is there a shutoff valve for that line? If there is, make sure it's fully open.

04-30-09, 04:48 PM	#11
Mole177 DVD Talk Ultimate Edition Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Glendale, Ca Posts: 4,323	Re: plumbing talk: washing machine hot water. yeah, valves are open. __________________ When I read about the evils of drinking, I gave up reading. My Countdown Counting down to: huh? yay!

04-30-09, 09:49 PM	#12
grenier Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 885	Re: plumbing talk: washing machine hot water. Did you try closing them al the way and then reopening? Maybe there's some funk buildup.

04-30-09, 10:32 PM	#13
kuroiinu DVD Talk Ultimate Edition Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Texas Posts: 4,295	Re: plumbing talk: washing machine hot water. It could be the water inlet valve to the washer, which acts as a mixing valve to make warm water. But if you are sure that the sink next to the washer also has weak hot water, then it looks like there is some blockage ahead of the washer. Can you break into the line somewhere between the water heater and the sink or washer, and try to flush it out?

04-30-09, 11:13 PM	#14
Mole177 DVD Talk Ultimate Edition Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Glendale, Ca Posts: 4,323	Re: plumbing talk: washing machine hot water. i am sure it's not the mixing valve. I've worked on washing machines. would things make sense if the house recirculator is broken? __________________ When I read about the evils of drinking, I gave up reading. My Countdown Counting down to: huh? yay!

11-22-09, 09:20 PM	#15
Heat DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Central Illinois Posts: 16,087	Re: plumbing talk: washing machine hot water. Did you ever fix the problem? I had this issue for years but it really wasn't a big deal since we normally wash our clothes in cold water. Turned out to be debris in the hose (caught in the filter). Try this: disconnect the hot water hose and hook up a garden hose, running to a bucket, toilet, or whatever. Turn on the water. Is it still a trickle?

11-23-09, 12:16 AM	#16
Mole177 DVD Talk Ultimate Edition Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Glendale, Ca Posts: 4,323	Re: plumbing talk: washing machine hot water. yeah...still slow. I'll do the hose thing this comming weekend if i have time. __________________ When I read about the evils of drinking, I gave up reading. My Countdown Counting down to: huh? yay!

11-23-09, 07:23 AM	#17
Superman07 DVD Talk Limited Edition Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Fairfax, VA Posts: 5,714	Re: plumbing talk: washing machine hot water. Our washer does the same thing. Hot water barely comes out, warm a little more and then cold just pours out. I just assumed it was a "feature" of the washer. __________________ "Chuck me!" "Hey, I'm Eddie. How do you like me so far?" - Keen Eddie I've seen him. He's like fire, and ice, and rage. Like the night, and the storm in the heart of the sun. He's ancient and forever. He burns at the center of time and sees the turn of the univrse.

11-23-09, 09:54 AM	#20
Heat DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Central Illinois Posts: 16,087	Re: plumbing talk: washing machine hot water. I saw it and yes, nice. Hopefully there is one less person calling it a hot water heater now.

11-23-09, 07:37 PM	#21
Mole177 DVD Talk Ultimate Edition Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Glendale, Ca Posts: 4,323	Re: plumbing talk: washing machine hot water. can build up of lime and all that crud happen in copper pipes? i'm trying to figure out where else can the clog be, since hot water delivery for the rest of the house is strong and hot. __________________ When I read about the evils of drinking, I gave up reading. My Countdown Counting down to: huh? yay!

11-23-09, 09:32 PM	#22
grenier Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 885	Re: plumbing talk: washing machine hot water. I saw an episode of This Old House years ago where the copper pipes had build up inside due to excess flux when the pipes were sweated together. The flux reacted with the copper in some weird way.