Why is it that when the weather is cold the water from the faucet takes forever to get cold?

Question

and when it's hot the water takes forever to get hot...Shouldn't it be automatically hot in hot weather and automatically cold in cold weather?

Answer 1

Mine is hot when it's hot outside and cold when it's cold outside. I've visited Death Valley in the middle of summer and it doesn't matter how long you run the faucet, all you'll get is hot water.

Answer 2

It may only seem that way because you are feeling the heat or the cold. Your hot water tank is probably putting out the same temperature regardless of the weather outside. Your cold water is coming from the buried lines that are at a fairly constant temperature, too.

So, it sounds like you need to conduct a little experiment and prove it to your self. Use a candy thermometer and record the temperature at the same faucet under the different conditions noted. This may mean waiting some months but it is the only sure way to know if there is an actual variation as you mention.

Answer 3

Typically it's the other way around. However, there is an explanation.

If you live in a building or home that is heated and cooled as many of us do, sometimes the following can happen.

When it is hot outside the building or home is colled - thus the air temperature is cooler. If it's taking forever for your hot water to get hot this may be a sign of an un-insolated water pipe leading from the point where your hot water comes out and the source of your hot water. This is because the hot water in the pipe may be cooling as the air does from the air-conditioned building.

Meanwhile, in the winter - you get a long period of cold water wait the same way. The air is heated and thus the pipes that are exposed may be being heated. Thus it takes longer for the cold water to get cold.

I hope that helps. I would check the insolation of your pipes and protect them. That's a sign of significant energy lost somewhere.

Brian R Cross.

Answer 4

There is a valve in your faucet that opens both the hot and cold water. This valve commonly called a cartrige is clogged on the hot water side. Turn off the water to the faucet and disassemble the vavle starting with the handle, usually there is a set screw with an allen head that lets the handle get taken off. Next remove the retainer ring under the faucet, typically a large dome shaped piece that will unscrew, use a rag with channel locks to remove it, the pieces to the cartrige are under this. If you know what type of faucet you have try searcing for the companies website and the exact break down of parts. this might help you find what you need at the hardware store.

Answer 5

In your home your plumbing is probably near or alongside your heating and cooling unit plumbing.

The soil temprature at the depth we bury pipes in the US outside the home is a fairly constant 60degrees or so regardless of the season.

Answer 6

The heat from your home warms the pipes and untill it circulates from the water outside it will be warm.

Answer 7

Mine is the opposite of yours...maybe you have insulated pipes