Thanks everyone for the information/opinions on tankless water
heaters. It looks like if I go this route, I will at least have to
have a new gas line run, since the existing heater is only on a 1/2"
line and the size unit I would get would need at least 3/4", if not
1". I also have to figure out the venting options, as the existing
galvanized vent won't work (I wonder if the 3" stainless vent could
be run inside the existing 4" vent?).
Anyway, all of this discussion brings up another plumbing issue in my
house. I suspect it is a design flaw of some sort, since it has
always been this way. The problem seems to be with the balance of
hot/cold (for lack of a better term). If you are taking a shower
with the temperature set comfortably (for me, that is about 60% hot/
40% cold water, assuming the valve is fairly linear), any other water
usage in the house (either hot or cold) will radically affect the
temperature in the shower. For example, if someone flushed the
toilet, the shower gets very hot. Even minor usage on just cold
water, like the water dispenser on the fridge causes a noticeable
temperature change. Conversely, any other hot water usage will make
the shower noticeably cold.
At first I thought it was pressure related, but it wouldn't that
effect the hot and cold supply somewhat evenly? The only other thing
I can think of is that the plumbing is laid out such that the showers
are near/at the ends of the pipe runs, such that the other fixtures
are essentially pulling water out upstream, and the plumbing isn't
sized to deal with that. If that is the case, the there seems little
hope if fixing it short of running new water pipes. Any other
possibilities of causes?
Thanks!
--
Darrell Walker
66 TR4A IRS CTC67956L
Vancouver, WA, USA
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