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[Maxfli]

I have the following sidearm installation and for the life of me have no idea what's going on... If I turn the valve on at the top of the sidearm even with a full tank of hot water all I get out of my fixtures is pure cold water. Diagram is the same as install exactly.. Last year I was going to install sidearm into the pressure relief valve on side of tank to see if things would get better but have been told since my sidearm is as tall as my tank the water going up then back down to pressure release . Valve the thermal action will not take place.. Sidearm is working and will fill the tank with hot water.. My problem is that I just can't get the water out of the tank to use it.. Some how the cold water feed from the bottom is finding a easier path to my faucets.. I have read about some anti siphon valve in the tank on the hot water outlet.. Could this b the cause of my problem... Thanks for all the help.

[racnruss]

not sure why you have those symptoms, but most water heaters I've seen the cold water going into the WH is at the top.  By your drawing it looks like the cold water may be going in the bottom of water heater and then right up through your heat exchanger to the top and out to the house following path of least resistance?

[Jwood]

Cold coming in the bottom? Might want to change that.

[slimjim]

Set the tank up on blocks and drop the side arm down to where the top of the heat exchanger is level with the relief valve and plumb to a tee there

[mlappin]

On ours, from the advice of the water conditioning company I removed the anode rod and have the top of our sidearm plumbed there. Only do this if you have a water softener.

[Pinehouse4]

Maxfli,

Where you have the valve marked in green, I have a very small taco circ, which is .45 amps and 1/40 hp with a ball valve for flow control if needed when the boiler is 24/7 as opposed to shoulder seasons. This moves the DHW through the tank and sidearm continuously. In my shop I use a sidearm only and therefore only have the benefit of thermal circulation but there the demand is minimal.

Hope this helps,

Bob

[slimjim]

Again, path of least resistance, it will be straight through the cold bottom of the tank, up the side arm and into the hot side of your domestic, if you simply raise the tank and install the side arm into the relief valve port with a tee, I think your symptoms will disappear.