Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Nuggets]

OK, so I just moved into a 2 room villa. Everything is great except the water. When taking a shower, I can't turn the pressure all the way up, cause it makes the water cold - even if I have it turned all the way to the hot side.

So, I have to decrease the pressure in order for the water to heat up, and it does get hot, just not with full pressure. This erks me.

So, the landlord comes in with a tech. The tech cleans out my water heater and dinks around with it for about an hour.

Finally, he says cause I have a bigger villa, that is the problem. The water heater was meant for a studio apartment.

The landlord refuses to change out the water heater until after 2 years afterwards when if I decide to contract for another 2 years.

So, they leave. Now, I'm thinking. Why does it matter if I have a 2 room? I was told that it has different compartments for the actual usable hot water and ondol.

But, I try the water with the ondol off and there's no change. My problem is that i don't get that reasoning: the water heater is too weak for 2 rooms. So? I only need hot water to come out one output. To me, there should be no difference in the production of hot water. I believe the ondol may be affected by the extra space, but not the hot shower water.

Anyone have to deal with anything like this?

[SeoulNate]

I do not believe that a small water heater would cause that particular problem. If the heater was indeed too small for the apartment then it wouldn't give you hot water only at certain water pressures. It would just give you less hot water in total. As in you would only be able to take a hot shower for 10-15 minutes instead of double that time.

I would hire someone yourself to inspect the system with a korean speaking friend with you.

[zhanknight]

The hot and cold sides of your faucet (any faucet, shower head, etc) work like a mixer. If you're getting colder water at higher pressures, it's because the hot water heater can only output so much hot water at a time, and as you increase the amount of water coming out of the shower beyond that limit, it mixes with cold water - even if it's turned all the way towards the hot side.

It's still a weak water heater issue, but not in the sense that it is not making enough hot water, it probably is, it just can't spit it out at the pressures you're wanting.

[Ruthdes]

This is a common problem that should improve as the weather warms up. Mine is the same, but in summer it's fine. Yes, it's a big fat pain in the arse.

The best way I've found to deal with it (short of replacing the boiler) is to partially close of the valve that allows water to go into the boiler. This means that your hot water pressure will be lower, but you can find the point where the water is the hottest you want it, for the highest pressure (this may take some experimenting). Then you can just turn your tap straight round to hot when you get in the shower, rather than trying to find that magic balancing point.

As the weather warms up, you can either change the boiler valve (I haven't done that b/c mine's behind my washing machine and is a pain to get to), or just add more cold water. This system is better than just trying to find the balancing point on a free running boiler b/c the change happens at the tap, and the water changes temperature quickly. The old way, I'd guess the balancing point, then have to wait over a minute for the water to flow through the boiler, heat up, and make it to my shower: not fun.

It still sucks, but it works reasonably well.

NB. Even though the weather has been warming up, my water's still coldish, so don't worry about that point. I expect that within the next month, I'll be able to open my boiler valve back up again.

[Nuggets]

Ghawl! So, I'm not the only one! Common problem huh?

Yeah, I've done that with the valve and hitting that sweet spot is easier now.

So, what I don't understand is what is the real problem?

The water heater is too weak and can't keep up with the hot water production at full pressure?

If so, why would they even produce anything that weak? I don't need my water to be searing hot, but come on.

The Rinnai tech said it would be ok in the summer.

I suppose I can deal with it for the winter. I thought the only thing that sucks about my new place is that there's no SINK in the bathroom, but now I have to hump the wall during a shower in the winter.

Ghawl!

[Ruthdes]

[Nuggets]