No hot water in downstairs bathroom?
It's a puzzlement. A lot of information would seem contradictory. The toilet should have nothing to do with the bath taps. The kitchen tap (presumably the hot water tap) loosing pressure when the shower hot water tap is on but delivering cold water makes no sense. I am presuming some things here that were not said, but if this is what you meant, then this is a puzzle. At this point, I would be getting frustrated enough to be taking down drywall, and tracing water lines. Before you do that though, try to do the very easiest things, even though they don't seem to make sense. Search out everyplace there may be a shut off valve, under cabinets, in crawl spaces, under the house, where ever. Also, search out water lines that are visible, for something odd. Doesn't make sense, but nothing else does either. Then start tearing into the sheet rock in such a way that it could be easily repaired. Be careful not to cut into wiring or water lines. I am presuming you are allowing the water to the tub run long enough to clear the cold water in the line and allow warm water to reach the tub. I am also suspecting the way the valve to the tub was plumbed in. Probably the first thing to check. Am also wondering if you are getting warm water being delivered to your toilet?
Is it true that upstairs running water in your house's bathroom is less clean for drinking?
ROB, USUALLY , NO. THE WATER UPSTAIRS IN MOST CASES IS FINE TO DRINK. YOU MAY WANT TO LET THE WATER RUN A BIT OR IF YOU USE THE TOILET FIRST, THAT WOULD BRING WATER UP FROM DOWNSTAIRS.SOME PEOPLE HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT WATER IN OLD HOUSES. THEY USED TO USE GALVANIZED IRON. WHICH MEANS IRON PIPES COATED WITH ZINC. THE ZINC IS LONG GONE AND A LITTLE IRON WOULD NOT HURT YOU. MANY OF THESE PIPES BECAME CLOGGED WITH RUST-ALSO HARMLESS AND HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITH COPPER PIPES. I AM MORE CONCERNED ABOUT HOUSES WITH PLASTIC PIPES..
Why not just run the hot tap in the upstairs bathroom to unfreeze the outside downpipe?
Because if its already frozen…the water wont flow fron the heater to the exterior pipe.The ideas is to leave the tap on a trickle, before it freezes. Moving water is much more difficult to freeze that still water.
No hot water upstairs. Cold water downstairs sink?
That could be a blockage in your boiler have an engineer come in and have a look at it, I don't think this is one of things you can do yourself unless your a plumber, also it could be your hot water is coming from a back boiler which is the case if you have a coal fire we had this problem in our old house if its a coal fire boiler it causes problems trying to get hot water all over the house especially upstairs.
What is wrong with my hot water heater?
Here it is in layman's talk.Get a water hose 50' or so connect one end to the hot water faucet down stairs laundry tub,washing machine outlet will have the screw on type of adaptor.take the other end upstairs over the bathtub,have someone open the HW tap.If you get lots of hot water,then its your pipe that's BO.If the hot water has no presser,do this,go down get a wash pail mark it on the top inside fill the pail to line by timing it, go upstairs and do the same thing with hose.If there is a 10% or more time wise then its the lack of presser on the cold water side that makes hot water flow in your pipes.you should have 75 to 110 psi. or a 3/4 inch pipe feed line from main to HTW tank is a plus in a upstairs washroom.If there is not enough HW,then go to your tank.And look at the temp.set tings,what colour is the pilot light,when was the last cheque up done etc.etc.
What are some possible causes of a shower losing hot water?
From the Question details, I infer that only the bathroom shower has a problem, and the kitchen sink or other hot water outlet does have hot water. If this is the case, take Brother Mcfeley's advice. You might be able to do this yourself, with basic tools and good instructions. http://www.diyadvice.com/diy/plu...(The cartridge is the brass pencil-like assembly behind the handle.) If you are getting hot water anywhere, then you need not worry about the gas or electricity supply.If the home is only a year old, your water heater is very unlikely to have developed any problems.Water heaters are made to allow the owner to adjust the water temperature within a certain range. Look for the bright red dial. Water heaters' output temperature, and the temperature of water delivered in metal piping, are affected by the ambient temperature around the heater and pipes, which is affected by the season. Colder air temperature in Winter will chill the hot water. Warmer air in Summer causes less heat loss, but may push the output temperature (when left on the Winter setting) above a cut-off temperature.Adjust the water temperature setting of your water heater. (You should do this also, Garrick.) If you can get hot water and still have the temperature set lower, you'll save some money.EDIT ADDED:See also the good answers to How can I increase the temperature of my shower?
Two part question. "Where" is the mixing valve on a hot water heater? And what does it do?
The mixing valve is a separate part that is added in some installations; it is typically used where there is a need to reduce/control the temperature of the hot water, such as when a heat exchanger loop running into a steam furnace is being used to make the hot water, or to protect children from accidental scalding. Look for a brass thing with 3 pipes connected; the hot water line and cold water line feed into it and the controlled temperature hot water leave from the 3rd connection. there is usually some kind of knob or lever to adjust the temperature of the output. Because the mixing valve is not an integral part of the furnace or water heater, it could be just about anywhere in the system as long as there is both hot and cold water available. If the bathroom is the only place where hot water is backing up into the cold water, the valve is probably located somewhere near that bathroom. I hope this helps! PS: Sometimes, warm water is fed to the toilet tank to prevent "sweating" in humid weather. Added: At first I though you ment the water was always warm. I just re-read your question and since you are only getting the first few gallons being warm, it is probably not the kind of valve I am describing, as it would always be warm no matter how long it was run. Since it is just a few gallons affected, it seems somewhere hot water is leaking into the cold pipes and the most lilely culpret is a single handle water fawcet or shower valve with a worn out cartridge. (Others have mentioned this as well) If you are reasonably handy with simple tools you should be able to replace the cartrige yourself.
Is it true that Germany's bathrooms don't have water?
Indeed, water use has been banned from private and public bathrooms for environmental reasons. Water use is restricted to car washing and beer brewing only. People use the abundant rain, lakes and rivers to clean themselves. This is why public nudity has become a cultural norm.However - Some tinkerers illegally tap into some neighboring sprinkler system and extend the line into their bathroom. To take a shower they light a match and to trigger the system. Others have installed shower systems dispensing beer in lack of water. There are 3 patents pending for the construction of hot water sprinklers, a serious case of German Engineering.People live in constant fear of being caught, the punishment is severe and involves having your water cut off from your kitchen as well. That’s why in Germany you see a lot of people fishing, hunting and barbecuing in public places, near rivers and lakes.