Have a theory on my hot water problem

[evi]

We have had the Laundromat for 5 months now. Periodically I will get a customer to complain that his washer is not using HOT WATER. I have Wascomat GEN 6s. I have noticed that the washers uses cold water for prewash and then hot water (if level is set for HOT) for the main wash. Yesterday I had a customer complain about not having washer #1 and #3 using hot water. I decided to open up the units and reset the timers to see for myself if the units were using only cold water. To my surprise the units were dispensing cold water. I then checked washer #2 and ran that one also and found it to use cold water also. I can not believe that all three washers have stuck valves. I checked the water heater and it read 105 degrees. I touched the hot water pipe and did not feel it hot. I then checked washer #20 and found it did dispense hot water. The difference between #20 and #1, #2, and #3 is that #1-60lb washer, #2-45 lbs washer, and #3-45 lbs washer are 75 feet away from the hot water heater while #20 was 20 feet away. Is it possible that since the pipes are not insulated I'm loosing the heat from the water by the time it gets to the farthest washers? Is this the problem with Laundromat that is very elongated?

I plan to check all the machines one by one to test my theory and insulate the hot water lines and increase the water heater by 10 degrees to compensate on the heat loss.

Any feedback will be appreciated.

[bodman]

105 in my humble opinion is way too low 120 minimum to 140 is standard around these parts. some in south fl have posted signs stating todays detergents are made to wash in cold water so hot water will no longer be offered. Seems to work for them. Bodman I would call wasco and ask them about your situation. 1 866 655 1010 . They are very helpful

[Andy]

105 is not hot enough, that's like room temp. in Phoenix. Buy a non contact IR thermometer and shoot the supply line feeding your machines to see what temp you are actually getting there.

Also, if you do not have a re-circulation loop and there is little or no demand for hot water your 105 deg water will drop to room temp faster than you can say BTU.

1. Turn up the temp. as suggested earlier 120-140 deg f
2. Insulate pipes if not already
3. Install re-circ loop if possible

[pete f]

I agree with the hot water tank needing to be at least 130 setting. There are ways to loop the hot water without buying a recirculating pump. I bought one for my house becuase the hot water heator is far from the kitchen. They connect at the farthest point and let the hot water circulate back to the water heator thru the cold water line, works quite well. Google hot water circulator or something like that.

[jwebby]

We have had the Laundromat for 5 months now. Periodically I will get a customer to complain that his washer is not using HOT WATER. I have Wascomat GEN 6s. I have noticed that the washers uses cold water for prewash and then hot water (if level is set for HOT) for the main wash. Yesterday I had a customer complain about not having washer #1 and #3 using hot water. I decided to open up the units and reset the timers to see for myself if the units were using only cold water. To my surprise the units were dispensing cold water. I then checked washer #2 and ran that one also and found it to use cold water also. I can not believe that all three washers have stuck valves. I checked the water heater and it read 105 degrees. I touched the hot water pipe and did not feel it hot. I then checked washer #20 and found it did dispense hot water. The difference between #20 and #1, #2, and #3 is that #1-60lb washer, #2-45 lbs washer, and #3-45 lbs washer are 75 feet away from the hot water heater while #20 was 20 feet away. Is it possible that since the pipes are not insulated I'm loosing the heat from the water by the time it gets to the farthest washers? Is this the problem with Laundromat that is very elongated?

I plan to check all the machines one by one to test my theory and insulate the hot water lines and increase the water heater by 10 degrees to compensate on the heat loss.

Any feedback will be appreciated.

You have to have your water heater set for at least 120 maybe your hot water heater was not size correctly for the number of washers you have. But turn up the temp. and see what happens.

[PeterH]

Just something to throw into the equasion...

In my 40# and 55# Gen 6 machines, there is a third valve that is dedicated to flushing the soap dispenser at the top. This third valve I have connected to hot water. I have had customers complain that they have the washer set for cold wash, but hot water is going in. I have to explain that the hot water is only in the dispenser to dissolve detergent. If on your bigger machines, you have this third valve connected to cold, then your warm and hot customers might think they are only getting cold.

I will have to double check my 2 connection (one hot and one cold water hose each) 30# Gen 6 machines to see what temps it flushes the compartments. I assume it would be the same for the 20# washers also.