how can i stop these cold showers?

Question

i do a lot of plumbing & i'm not sure about this 1. need advice.

i installed hot water on demand & love it, but here's the rub. in the winter the incoming water is colder, so the temp rise suffers a bit. here's my idea, run the cold line to a 55 gal. drum & from drum to heater, thereby warming the water just by room temp. i'm on a tight budget & can't afford a real storage tank nor do i want a preheater which would defeat the whole purpose. i would love any & all input. thanks!!

Answer 1

Favorite Answer

Don't see why it wouldn't work...

Good luck...

Answer 2

It's an idea that would work. Maybe consider a smaller drum? It could take days to bring 55 gallons of cold water up to room temp., plus that same 55 gallons of water is going to add a definite cooling effect to whatever room it's in until it does get warm.

Answer 3

Yes, sounds good, but rust will soon be your enemy. Try to use plastic that can handle the water pressure or save up for a real tank. You may spend a significant amount of money on fittings for the drum conversion, but minimal for the tank install.