Water slow to come hot in downstairs bathroom

Jake'sGran

I do try to be "green" and not wasteful but the hot water in the hand washbasin in our downstairs bathroom takes for ever to start running warm/hot. We had a new boiler and large tank fitted about two years ago but the water problem was the same before this. The water in the bath comes hot quickly. My OH says it is something to do with the route the pipes take. He also started to mention having an extra pump in the cupboard where the big water tank is but I do not know what he means by this

Does anyone know the answer to this problem so that gallons of cold water are not wasted each time someone wants a bowl of warm water?

Also, in this downstairs bathroom, we have an electric shower with strange habits. It has three settings - warm, medium, hot. When it is on warm it is too hot for me although I did notice this is not such a big problem in the winter. In summer I can't use it. Will a new and very modern electric shower solve this particular problem? Is it something todo with the thermostat?

Canucklehead

Hi

Your OH would mean a secondary pump such as a Grundfos Bronze. It would mean running a pipe back to the cylinder from the furthest point with the pump in the circuit (usually in the cylinder cupboard.) The pump alone will cost about £180.Then a timer and all the pipework. Not a cheap option. It will mean losing heat from the hot water all the time it's circulating as well. Either way is not very 'green'
If the bathroom requirements been planned at the same time as the heating then I would have fitted the cylinder at a central point in the house.

The shower problem might be the thermostat or the water supply pressure is poor ,possibly due to a blocked filter or other internal part.

Corgi Guy.

Jake'sGran

No, the bathroom was fitted a long time ago (still quite modern though). The new boiler etc was a Warm Front job and you can't really tell them where everything should go. It's weird really as I don't remember having these problems say 15 years ago when I was working - must have washed in cool water or just waited for it to heat up. I now feel the cold very badly so these problems have become an issue for me. Thank you for your reply.

Joannag_2

Just an idea put could you fill a container with the water while it runs and use the water for watering plants/ flushing loo etc? At least it wouldn't be completely wasted.
Jo