Some homeowners resign to having to wait for long before hot water can reach fixtures, such as the shower faucet in their homes. Such homeowners may not know that some steps can be taken to remedy such a situation. This article discusses some of the measures that can reduce the time it takes for hot water to reach your fixtures.
Change the Pipe Diameter
Pipes with larger diameters, such as three-quarter inch pipes, take longer to deliver hot water where it is needed when compared to smaller diameter pipes. For instance, a gallon of water will travel a longer distance in a half-inch pipe when compared to the distance that it will travel in a three-quarter inch pipe. Replacing wider pipes with narrower ones will therefore deliver hot water to fixtures quickly.
Pay Attention to Pipe Material
The material from which your hot water pipes are made can also affect how quickly you can get hot water when you need it. For instance, galvanised pipes have thicker walls that absorb more heat from hot water when compared to copper pipes. Consequently, you are likely to take longer to receive hot water at a fixture if the pipes delivering it are galvanised. Replace those pipes with pipes that have thinner walls so that hot water gets to the fixtures within a short time.
Install a Pump
Many homes now have fixtures with low flow rates in order to conserve water. Such fixtures increase the time that it takes for hot water to flow from the heater or tank to the fixture. However, that hot water can reach the fixture faster if you install a hot water pump in your hot water system. The pump forces the hot water to flow quickly to the point of use so that you don't have to wait for long before the hot water gets to you.
Insulate the Pipes
Ambient temperature can also affect how quickly hot water can reach where it is needed. For example, cold conditions can increase the amount of heat that pipes absorb from hot water when the initial streams of water move through those pipes after several hours of disuse. You can reduce that heat loss by insulating the hot water pipes so that hot water can reach where it is needed quickly regardless of the ambient conditions.
Ask an experienced plumber from a company like Peninsula Plumbing S.A. to assess your entire hot water system so that the most cost-effective way can be implemented to reduce the time that it takes hot water to reach where it is needed.
