The hot water throughout my apartment has pretty much turned to shit with the complex remodel.

Well Prado today, after two weeks or more of waiting, finally sent a maintenance guy here today to basically tell me that the hot water is fine, and it’s hot enough.  Well this is me saying to the world that it’s not and not including the water I have to waste to get the temperature acceptable everyday, I’m wasting hundreds of gallons of water in the process to determine the water temperature.

I quickly and easily rigged up something utilizing a kitchen oven wireless temperature monitor and probe which either sits in the flow of water when in the sink, or at the bottom of the dishwasher which I may not test with my made for the oven temperature probe.

My daily showers vary wildly in temperature.  Some days it will be the same as where I left the hot/cold mix, others I will have to wait forever, adjusting the thing and waiting minutes on end, stooping over the bathtub further aggravating my back and neck.  Shower supposed to equal relaxation.

Hot water here wasn’t spectacular before, but now, this is ridiculous.

I had left the kitchen sink on hot for about 45 minutes.  This is near the same feed for my dishwasher.  I rely on my dishwasher, when doesn’t work properly because the temperature never gets above 113, maybe 116 degrees Fahrenheit even using rinse agent, it leaves cleaning crap and food on the dishes which doesn’t come off, utensils, and other things which get tossed in there after a good pre-rinse and scrub in the sink if necessary.

My bathroom sink is fine for me really, I don’t need HOT water to wash stuff, just to give my hands a good washy and I’m done.  It’s just here for show.

My shower is a real pain in the ass.  It took two takes to get a decent video. The temperature varies day by day, and by time of day, and will change temperature by itself making showers not fun as warm becomes too hot.

Running everything I use at the same time. Maybe I’ll try this again with the roommate running the shower, and sink in the master bedroom.

It was probably last year this time or so that Prado had to do some repairs, and ended up making all the hot water for the 10 unit building I live in go through the master bedroom closet then to a boiler located somewhere on the property.  Nice huh?

Well except for maybe the water distribution part, the Official HUD manual seems to say that my apartment is up to the HUD standards from what I can gleem after reading the pertinent sections copied below.   Sadly there is no part to be found which clarifies operating fluctuations, or whatever you would call it in technical terms for plumbing, which isn’t cool in my book.  I don’t like getting froze out then cooked while bathing.

Excerpts from the HUD Handbook, Chapter 6: Mechanical Systems(pdf link).

6-4.   DOMESTIC HOT WATER. 

   a.  Systems.  Domestic hot water heater systems shall have
       the capacity to maintain a minimum water temperature of
       l00F  The maximum water temperature shall not exceed l20F
       at the tap for typical dwelling unit use.  Heaters shall
       be connected to an approved vent, flue or chimney and
       shall have adequate air supply for fuel combustion.
       Domestic hot water heating systems shall be with
       retrofitted energy conservation devices that are cost-
       effective, such as: 

            o    Jacket insulation for electric heaters;
            o    Off peak control of electric water heaters;
            o    Solar collector systems;
            o    New high-efficiency water heater replacement;
                 or
            o    Other. 

   b.  Equipment location.  Fossil fuel fired hot water heaters
       shall not be located in any room used or designed to be
       used for sleeping purposes such as bedrooms or combined
       bedroom/living rooms.  Gas and oil fired water heaters
       shall not be located in bathroom, clothes closets, under
       stairways, or in a confined space with access only to
       that
...

6-6.    PLUMBING.  Project site and building plumbing systems shall
   provide adequate water supply and distribution, drainage,
   sewage venting, and all required materials and fixtures to
   provide: maintenance of tenant health and safety and of
   cleanliness; disposal of human and other waste; and safe,
   efficient and environmentally sound site and building storm
   drainage.