During the colder months, ventilation ducts can be warm to the touch due to the warm air traveling through them. If the cold-water pipes are touching the ventilation ducts, the water within them can begin to warm up.

Why is hot water on the left and cold water on the right?

Since the vast majority of people tend to be right handed it made sense for the pump to be placed on the right hand side of the sink. So, when hot water was introduced, the logical conclusion about where to put this new tap was simply on the opposite side of the cold water tap – the left!

How do you keep cold water pipes from getting hot?





Fiberglass insulation, combined with a special plastic or foil wrapping to keep it in place, can be used to insulate both hot and cold water pipes. Wrap the fiberglass insulation around the pipe and tape it down with acrylic/duct tape.

Should you wrap cold water pipes?

There are several reasons you’ll want to insulate your cold water pipes if you haven’t already. First, insulating cold water pipes helps protect against freezing. Second, because cold water pipes absorb heat, during the winter they will draw heat from the space around them, assuming this space is insulated.

What is a plumbing crossover?

A plumbing cross over is a condition whereby cold water is allowed to flow into the hot water system. The plumbing system in a home is divided into two sub-systems, the hot water supply and the cold water supply.

How do you test a plumbing crossover?

How to test for a plumbing crossover

  1. Turn OFF hot water at the water heater.
  2. Turn ON all hot water faucets.
  3. Wait for several minutes until the water flow stops.
  4. If you see any water flowing, then you have a problem with the plumbing crossover.
  5. Next, turn OFF all the faucets.

How do you know if your mix valve is broken?





3 Signs Your Thermostatic Mixing Valve Has a Problem

  1. Your water temperature isn’t right. If a TMV valve stops working correctly, then you may notice that your hot water suddenly starts to run hotter than it should. …
  2. Your water doesn’t flow normally. …
  3. You have leaks or drips.


What causes a plumbing crossover?

Crossover occurs in a DHW distribution system and is the result of a combination of a faulty fixture valve, or an uncontrolled open circuit at the point where cold water and hot water pipes join to mix, and a pressure imbalance between the hot and cold water subsystems.

How does a hot water crossover valve work?

The crossover valve, which opens when the water temperature falls below 95ºF, typically is installed below the sink farthest from the water heater. When open, the valve allows cool water resting in the hot-water lines to flow into the cold-water lines.

What is a crossover valve?



A crossover valve, between the hot- and cold-water lines, is mounted under the sink. When you hit the demand button, a small high-volume, low-pressure pump starts drawing water from the hot water line, that is, the water heater. The water flows very quickly through the pipes.

Does a mixing valve need a check valve?

For a simple domestic hot water application, with a point-of-distribution mixing valve (ASSE 1017 certified) such as the Caleffi 521 Series mounted near the water heater, check valves are typically not needed unless required by local code or the local authority.

How does a hot and cold water mixing valve work?

As the element expands and contracts, it moves the slide valve (5) to correctly proportion the amount of cold and hot water entering the valve. If the cold water supply were to fail slowly over a long period of time, the valve would increasingly throttle the hot supply to maintain a safe temperature at the outlet (3).

Where are mixing valves located?



This is typically attached directly to the shower, or under the sink, to control the water temperature and provide anti-scald protection. There is a specialty type of emergency thermostatic mixing valve, which is specifically designed to provide tepid water for emergency eyewash or shower drench applications.

Which way do you turn a mixing valve?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: You want to turn that towards the plus symbol. That's going to allow more hot water to come into the mixing valve. And then to all your faucets your shower.

Which way do you turn a mixing valve for hotter water?

The outgoing water temperature cooler is made by an automatic mixing valve. The water temperature gets hotter when the Watts mixing valve is turned clockwise.

Where is the diverter valve?

It’s usually a lever that’s situated behind the bath taps that you can pull up or push down. System and conventional boilers don’t require a diverter valve.