Hot water from bathroom sinks.

[Chris]

In my master bath I have a two sink vanity and for some reason one of the sinks gets hot water in about 15 seconds and the one next to it takes about 3 minutes to get hot water. Would there be any logical reason for this? I thought they would be plumbed off the same line?

 

[SlowDrip]

That seems really, really odd. The only thing I can think of is a blockage in the line after the first faucet, but that would still need an odd setop to cause the symptoms you are describing. I suppose it could also be a cartridge issue with something blocking the hot water.

 

[Chris]

One of these days I will pull it apart but yes it seems very odd to me as well because when it does get hot it get really hot like all the others. I thought if there was a blockage I would have less pressure or less heat but no.

 

[SlowDrip]

Well, I am thinking that if the flat washer on the hot water cartridge is run down (or, depending on the cartridge, if the screw is loose) that it may be warped on the post and only letting a bit off the hot water through at first. Eventually the hot water would soften the rubber and allow it to straighten out and lift up the shaft.

This only really applies if it is a two-handle system with brass cartridges though.

 

[Chris]

They are single handle Moen faucets. They kind you can turn to adjust temp and them pull up to turn on.

 

[SlowDrip]

Ahh...kind of like the old style adlers. I've never heard of that problem from them before and i can;t think of a way that 1225 cartridge would cause the issue, making me lean more towards some sort of piping issue.

 

[Chris]

I just looked under the sink and both the hot and cold steel braided lines are stretched pretty good, maybe the hot is pinching a little. The only thing that baffles me is that there is great pressure.

 

[SlowDrip]

If there is a bend greater than 90 degrees in the copper (for whatever reason) it could be causing a cyclone effect in the hot water pipe, meaning most of the water simply spins in the elbow and creates back-pressure without much getting through to the faucet itself, eventually the cyclone breaks and lets more water through. I have only ever seen that happen with a high pressure drain, but I don't see why it can't happen to a supply pipe.