Hot water heater

[Pedro]

All my faucets are putting out hot water from the cold water side as well as the hot sides, what gives?

[Beta Don]

Are the hoses on the heater reversed?

Why do they call them 'Hot Water Heaters?' - If the water is already hot, why would you need to heat it??

Don

[Pedro]

No plumbing has been switched around, it worked fine last year, I suspect some sort of back flow is happening,

[ScubaPete]

Why do they call them 'Hot Water Heaters?' - If the water is already hot, why would you need to heat it??
Don

That's like trying to un-thaw a frozen pizza.

[jleonard]

There might be a one way check valve that is faulty and not working correctly.

(From the department of redundancy department)

[WillieC]

You sure it's not the one way, anti-siphon, backflow preventer check valve?

[Beta Don]

I suspect some sort of back flow is happening

That's what I had when the hoses on the heater were reversed . . . . hot water everywhere!

Don

[Pedro]

Thanks,I'll be looking for a check valve, that seems like the logical issue, if that's the issue I hope something I can source it from defender,

[mike66]

No plumbing has been switched around, it worked fine last year, I suspect some sort of back flow is happening,

Was it ever right this year? Were the hoses disconnected for winterizing?

[Pedro]

I will be checking all hose routing ,it was doing this From time to time for a minute or two last season, seams like a check valve but I don't see one by the tank?

[RobS]

....seams like a check valve but I don't see one by the tank?

circled in red. you have not posted any pics? so no guarantee your setup is the same..

[Pedro]

Rob,Here's the cold side,doesn't look like a check valve but I'll take it apart and investigate if there's time before the trip next week,

[Russell]

In my 97 model the check valve was in the plastic tubing leading to the heater. It was a section about 6 inches long where the line ran along the bulk head. It was convenient because it could be reversed after draining the water heater for winter allowing the pink antifreeze to be added to the fresh water tank without it going into the water heater. This allowed us to wash our hands during winter fishing.
My present 05 model has the check valve at the entry of the cold water line into the tank. Last year is was corroded shut and I had no hot water flow until breaking it loose with a screwdriver, just the opposite of your problem.

[Pedro]

Thanks,I haven't been down to the boat but I'll check,never thought it would be further out from tank

[Pedro]

So I locate a 1/2" brass check valve from FWWebb, $8 , haven't even found the check valve on my system if there is one, water is now acting normally I wonder what happened?