New build - hot water?

LL30

Afternoon,

I moved into a new build in May (HA) and the hot water tap over the bath is rubbish! I've taken the temperature and at it's hottest it reaches 40 degrees c. That's ok for my little one, but no good for me. I mentioned it to the snag people (yeah, I know that's not the technical term!) and they said it was set at a legal limit? Surely 40 degrees isn't warm enough for anyone to bathe in? I have arthritis and one of the things which helps is a nice hot bath - which currently I have to fill using the shower (which is lovely and hot!).

Any input appreciated, I know nothing about these things

Salz

Just found this if its any help - states the legal limit is 44 for a bath.
http://www.ciphe.org.uk/Global/Databyte/Safe%20Hot%20Water.pdf

BitterAndTwisted

Do you have your own boiler? If so, you should be able to set the hot-water temp at whatever you want. The controls should be on the hot-water tank itself. 40 degrees is much too low. But if the temp of the water coming from the shower is hotter this suggest that the source is not the same for both.

Foxy-Stoat_3

Had this in my new flat when I rented....tried to run baths and the water never got very hot, had to take showers the whole time....10 months later a friend said don't run the hot tap too fast as the boiler couldn't keep up with the flow of water....result was I managed to have a few baths in the last 2 months!!!

LOL

nidO

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

Do you have your own boiler? If so, you should be able to set the hot-water temp at whatever you want. The controls should be on the hot-water tank itself. 40 degrees is much too low. But if the temp of the water coming from the shower is hotter this suggest that the source is not the same for both.

It's more likely that they are coming from the same source but the bath has a thermostatic mixer on it and it's set to a lower temperature than the OP wants or is simply faulty.

Most thermostatic mixers will be pre-set with a max temp of 38-40c so the issue you're seeing (assuming indeed that your bath is using a mixer rather than just a hot and cold tap) is normal, you can generally adjust the max temperature as needed by simply removing the temp control tap then adjusting the spindle inside it (you should be able to find instructions online easily if you know the make/model of the mixer), it generally takes about 2 minutes to change.

robatwork

This is way too low.

Bacteria are killed around 55-60. There is some advice that it should be 65 to kill off Legionnaires too, but probably that's more appropriate to communal living.

Lots of website should help, eg http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Heating-and-hot-water/Thermostats-and-controls

scottishblondie

It's probably a thermostatic tap with a temperature limiter. My bath tap has the same. I got the builder to come back and set it higher - maybe the HA has some kind of rule about this and that is why they wouldn't change it? You could always do it yourself or hire a plumber
to do it for you.

LL30

Thanks everyone. I think I'll ring my Dad and see if he can have a go at changing it. I think the 'mixer' thing mentioned is most likely the problem, however, I will be asking the HA for the written particulars to be sent to me with regards to this...and I'm sure they'll love me for it

Disney_Pluto

We lived in a new build and when I ran the bath I couldn't get it hot at all just Luke warm so got in touch with building company who sent a plumer round. All he said was not to turn the taps in fully only half way so did and then the water got boiling. Have you tried only turning taps half on?

ihatemyhouse

boiler are set at a max for hot water, so people don't burner themselves

what boiler is it