Any suggestions on how to fix hot/cold water reversal issue after recent house remodel before calling a plumber?
Asked by دینا سهيلي راد 
8 months ago
Last Updated: May 1, 2024
Do you have any thoughts on how to solve this problem? Our house got a makeover not too long ago and now all of the water is backwards – hot water comes out of the cold faucets and vice versa. It’s even happening outside with scalding water shooting out of the hose. We attempted to swap the pipes connected to the water heater, but no luck. Hoping to find some DIY fixes before resorting to calling a plumber. 🙁
You have the option to switch them out at all the sinks by reversing the supply lines. Have you checked if your outside faucet is connected to the same supply line as your toilet, both running hot?
Hey! Did you know that toilets also use hot water? I’ve heard that can cause issues because it might harm the seal.
I think something may be wrong with the plumbing after it comes out of the water heater. If you can snap a picture of the visible plumbing from the water heater, I might be able to spot the issue. Do you happen to have a water circulator?
Hey , make sure your toilet has a mixing valve. Adding hot water to the cold can prevent the tank from sweating in the summer.
Say what now?
Wait, what did do?
Most houses I’ve lived in have had one of these. Pretty common in humid places. It’s actually called an anti-sweat valve, but it’s basically a mixing valve that combines hot and cold water for the toilet to prevent sweating in the summer. It’s also used for bidets.
Saw my response above.
I don’t think I’ve ever known anyone who has hot water or a mixing valve in their toilet. I can only recall one bidet installation in a home with on-demand hot water in the bathroom, but I’m not sure if it was connected to the bidet as well.
It’s still , but if all the water outlets are affected, we need to address the root cause. It’s frustrating that no one can use their outdoor hose for hot water!
Is in agreement.
The valve he mentioned helps prevent condensation on the outside of toilet and plumbing fixtures. I don’t think they’re used much nowadays, mainly in small tanks and commercial settings without tanks. In my 30 years of plumbing, I’ve never come across one in a residential setting.
Thanks for clearing that up, . It sounds like a smart idea to avoid tank sweat, but I’ve never actually seen it before.
Unless the tank is super tiny, there’s really no need for them since modern tanks hold enough water and room temperature keeps it from sweating. Only exception is if it’s in a super busy area where it’s constantly being flushed.
I installed one in my house in New Hampshire and during the summer it would sweat so much that you could fill a bucket with water. But using a mixer valve solved the problem!
Remember, you can’t just switch out the water heater.
Give the plumber another call and kindly ask him to focus.
I would contact the person who renovated it. Definitely a warranty matter.
I’d suggest contacting the plumber who did the job and asking them to come back and fix it.
I don’t think this is a DIY project, but maybe that’s why it turned out this way.
Heated toilets are definitely a nice addition. The contractors probably had to pay the plumber more for this.
If you’ve already switched the hot and cold lines at the heater and the issue persists, it seems like there could be some mysterious forces at play. It might be time to call a plumber.
Do you know how old this house is? I’m curious about what the previous occupants might have thought.
First things first, I recommend shutting off all the shutoff valves under the kitchen sink and bathroom sinks. Then flush a toilet to check if the tank still fills up with hot water, or try testing the outside spigot. There might be a faulty faucet or mixing valve causing the hot water to return in the cold water lines.
Mentioned having a recirculating system installed during the renovation. If not, the problem might be due to reversed lines at the water heater location. Check if the line with the shutoff valve feels cold to the touch. I suggest calling the remodeling company back out – it’s likely to be a simple solution.
Rotate that water heater and reconnect it! 😆😆
Do you think it’s not set up like that on purpose? I’ve come across houses that had hot water running through their exterior spigots.
First, shut off the water valve on the water heater. Next, switch the pipes around until water flows from the correct side.
It seems the water lines are mixed up at the hot water tank.
Try giving the remodelers a call and ask them to fix the issue.
To address the issue, you’ll need to find where the crossover happened and make the necessary changes. It’s likely located in the wall near your water heater or in the attic above it. The key is to locate the cold water supply line that connects to the water heater. Fixing the cold side is a simple process – just bypass the inlet and outlet of the water heater.
It seems like the contractor made a mistake by using the wrong source, and it’s not an easy fix because it’s connected inside the walls. You may need to call them back for help. Best of luck!