"TigerPaw40" wrote in message
...
Moved into a 1978 built two story home. The weird thing is we get instant
hot
water upstairs in both bathrooms. In all the homes I have lived in you
would
have to run the water a bit to get hot water. In this house the water is
very
hot instantly. Is this something that was designed in the home, or could I
have
some type of plumbing problem?

Not much information to go on! You don't mention how your hot water is
heated. Electric hot water tank? Electric 'instant' heater? Gas? From your
home heating furnace (which could be gas, electric, oil or wood)?
Most home owners have some idea what equipment provides their hot water
because it is, usually, a significant component of your utility costs?
Several suggestions, regarding your immediate hot water question.
(Suggestions only; others more expert may provide further ideas.)
1) You have one of those water heaters that 'instantly' heats the water as
it flows through. In other words there is no hot water tank or reservoir and
water is heated only as required? These are often deemed to be more
'economical' because there is no reserve of hot water in a tank or cylinder
to be kept warm due to lost heat over a period of time. AFIK they are more
common in Europe than North America. They may require, if electric, fairly
heavy wiring to cope with the short term 'demand' for heat.
2) Your conventional hot water heating tank/reservoir is immediately
adjacent (perhaps in a cupboard in the wall behind) to your bathroom
fixtures?
3) The hot water plumbing was installed with what I will call a "loop back"
to the water heating source. So, even if the hot water heater is in say your
basement ? as soon as the water cools down in the piping near your bathroom
taps, it drops back down to the heater, to be replaced with warmer water!
Hence the water at the tap is always warm. Haven't heard this discussed
very often in this type of forum, in North America.
4) The hot water may be heated by your home heating furnace and circulating
by convection so that the hot water tends to rise to the level of the
bathrooms, which you indicate are upstairs.
Respectfully suggest you become familiar with your system whatever type; if
your hot water fails it would be best to know whether you have a gas,
electric or other problem. Also if the hot water equipment, or some of it,
is 1978 vintage it will most likely eventually need some maintenance. It may
be necessary to close off water valves or shut off sources of fuel, in a
hurry, perhaps to avoid/minimize damage. (In fact your insurance company
will require you 'to take measures' to minimize damage or avoid injury
etc.).
Any help? Terry.