When you open up the cold water tap, does the water come out cold right away? If so, does it stay that way? Does it make a difference what time of year it is? All these questions can help you figure out what the problem with your cold water is. When you want a glass of cold water, few things are as annoying as getting a lukewarm glass of water instead.
So, where might the issue lie? There are quite a few different causes that could be behind this. Most commonly, the issue is because of your pipes not being insulated. When water sits inside a pipe that isn’t insulated, and it is located inside a warm area, such as a crawlspace or a basement, then you will have warm water coming from your cold water tap until you have drained it all out. On the other hand, the problem could also be with your hot water heater. Sometimes a malfunction with your water heater could send hot water down the cold water line. In that case, you wouldn’t get cold water until you drain the water tank.
