Residents of city apartments often face minor problems with plumbing equipment. And calling the masters to eliminate them is not always cost-effective. Sometimes it's easier to find the cause on the Internet and try to fix it on your own. If hot water suddenly flows from a cold tap, most likely the residents are to blame. This phenomenon can have several causes and solutions. Some of them will require time, and in some cases you will have to invest more money. Consider what can be done if hot water comes from a cold tap.
main reason
If hot water flows from a cold faucet, there may be several reasons. By itself, hot water cannot get into the cold water pipe. Pipes with heated and cold water have different pressures, in the DHW channel it is greater. But due to incorrect connection or operation of appliances, hot water under higher pressure displaces cold water from the pipe.
Unfortunately, this phenomenon affects not one apartment, but all floors with a common riser. If such a problem arose, it is not a fact that the reason is in your apartment. We have to think together with our neighbors why warm water comes out of a cold tap. You can check this as follows: at the entrance to the house, close the cold water shut-off valve, then open the cold water tap in all apartments. If nothing flows, then everything is in order. Where water has flowed, you need to look for a malfunction.
If, during the check, none of the residents has water, then the reason lies in the pipeline. You need to ask the neighbors which of them has recently installed the plumbing. If this was done incorrectly, with an increase in pressure in the pipes, squeezing occurs and hot water displaces cold water.
Incorrect operation of the bidet
A bidet is a hygienic shower. To pour water, you need to open the mixer and press the button. After the end of water procedures, it is necessary to press the button and close the tap. But many simply turn off the button, leaving the mixer open. At the same time, hot water is mixed with cold water and flows from the taps in this form. Neighbors can turn on cold water, then the pressure in the system drops. Therefore, hot water will displace cold water.
Due to the pressure difference, hot water flows through cold pipes. To avoid this, remember to close the bidet mixer.
Incorrect boiler connection
Due to poor-quality installation of the water heater, such a problem can also occur. If you have recently installed a boiler, then you do not need to think for a long time why the malfunction occurred. Just check the installation is correct - if there is no check valve, heated water will enter the riser with cold water. Due to pressure drops, the water heater itself may break. Usually a check valve is placed under the water tank after the shutoff valves.
It is very important to use the boiler correctly. Before use, it is necessary to close the DHW valve and unscrew the inlet and outlet taps. If the valve remains open, then the heated water will go into the cold water pipes.
To avoid squeezing in the pipes, after using the boiler, repeat the steps in reverse order. Close the inlet and outlet valves and open the shut-off valve.
Incorrect mixer installation
Often apartment dwellers change faucets on one's own. If this is done by an inexperienced person, he may install the tap incorrectly. The whole secret is to carefully tighten the mounting washer. That is why the installation may fail, and instead of cold water, hot water will flow.
If you are sure that the mixer is installed correctly, it is quite possible that it has deteriorated during operation. Most often this happens with old cranes installed back in the Soviet era. Over time, the following breakdowns occur:
- The gasket rots.
- The mixer cartridge is leaking.
- The seal wears out.
Also, the cause may be a factory defect in the mixer. Unfortunately, this is not uncommon, so it is better to choose high-quality fittings for which the manufacturer provides a guarantee.
Gasket wear
This problem occurs in most situations where hot water flows instead of cold. Rubber gaskets in faucets can last up to 10 years, but according to the rules, it is worth changing them every 2-3 years.
An indicator that it is time to change the gasket is the buzz of an open faucet. Over time, the rubber shrinks and the water begins to vibrate from strong pressure. This is where the annoying sound comes from.
You can change the gasket yourself.
- Shut off the water.
- Remove the mixer, disassemble it and remove the gasket.
- Install the new rubber in place.
- Assemble the faucet, install it and turn on the water.
If the unpleasant sounds have disappeared, and cold water comes out of the cold tap, then you did everything right.
Mixer wear
If replacing the gasket did not help, the mixer will have to be disassembled again. You need to check if the gasket was installed correctly. When you are convinced of the correctness of your actions, but hot water is still coming from a cold tap, you need to change the mixer completely. In modern faucets, other parts that cannot be repaired may wear out.
It is necessary to choose a quality device so that it does not break immediately after installation. It's better to prioritize more expensive options from reliable manufacturers.
Oil seal wear
If everything is in order with the tap closed, and no water flows anywhere, and when the cold valve is open, hot water comes out, then you need to change the stuffing box. It could wear out from long-term use.
Fixing this is easy enough. Here's what to do:
- The gland nut is unscrewed with an adjustable wrench.
- Tow, lubricated with oil or grease, you need to wrap the valve stem with a thin layer.
- After that, the nut is screwed back. You need to do this carefully so that the water continues to flow from the tap as usual.
Another option for resolving the issue is to change the gland or valve entirely.
Faucet factory defect
If you have done all the described procedures, but instead of cold water, hot water still comes out, then you should not exclude a factory defect of the mixer.
Usually the defect lies in a bad seal that is inaccurately sized, or in cracks and low-quality parts of the mixer. A new crane with defects can be exchanged in the store for another one.
Consequences
If the cause of this phenomenon is the incorrect installation of plumbing, then the tenants are to blame. Therefore, the management company is not responsible for the breakdowns caused by this problem.
Boiling water from a cold water tap is unpleasant, but there are other consequences. For example, some appliances are not designed for exposure to hot water. These include:
- Cold water meter.
- Toilet bowl.
- Cold water pipes.
- Toilet flush mechanism.
If these items become unusable due to your fault, then the responsibility lies solely with you.
Problem warning
You can protect yourself from a situation where hot water flows instead of cold. To avoid pressure differences, check valves can be installed at the pipe inlets. Or you can put modern water meters that have such valves.
When hot water appears in a cold water tap, no need to jump to conclusions.It is much more effective to get together with neighbors and collectively discuss why this could happen. If someone recently had a renovation in the bathroom, then it is advisable to look for the cause in this apartment.
In order to avoid such situations when hot water comes out of a cold water tap, or vice versa instead of hot water comes ice, it is necessary to trust the installation of plumbing to professionals. Now you know what to do when such a situation arises, but it is better not to allow it at all.
