Washing Machine hot water blend valve

[backagain]

Is this a picture of the washing machine hot water blend valve(s)? I found these electric solenoid valves under a sink, next to the washing machine.

I'm asking because I'm having a problem in my 05 Affinity with hot tap water. The water takes about 10 minutes before it heats up. My main blend/mixing valve (located behind the HyroHot tank) is working and the outside tap is off, so the next thing to check is the washing machine blend valve.

The fittings of the valve pictured on top felt hot, while the fittings of the valve on the bottom were cold. When I opened the hot water tap, the bottom valve felt lukewarm, as well as the water. So I'm guessing the bottom valve may be bad.

Any ideas?

Thx, Doug

[backagain]

OK, I shouldn't have called it a washing machine BLEND valve, it is just a valve. If the washing machine valve fails, Roger Burke says that it allows cold water to mix with hot water, which will make hot water cool off rapidly

[backagain]

I got advice from a CC owner that points to a water heater problem instead. I was told to try turning off the electric heater on the Hydrohot, and just have the diesel on. This will bypass water from going to the electric water heater tank (separate from the Hydrohot system). So hot water will go directly to the taps from the Hydrohot, instead of first sending it to the water heater. Result... almost instant hot water. So this means that the valves in the picture are not the problem. The thermostat and/or heating element of the electric water heater tank are probably the problem.

[smlranger]

Originally Posted by backagain

I got advice from a CC owner that points to a water heater problem instead. I was told to try turning off the electric heater on the Hydrohot, and just have the diesel on. This will bypass water from going to the electric water heater tank (separate from the Hydrohot system). So hot water will go directly to the taps from the Hydrohot, instead of first sending it to the water heater. Result... almost instant hot water. So this means that the valves in the picture are not the problem. The thermostat and/or heating element of the electric water heater tank are probably the problem.

Not familiar with the Affinity except my understanding they had lots of gadgets and features. My Allure has the Aqua Hot (which is the later generation of the Hydro Hot) and it provides all my domestic hot water. So are you saying you have the Hydro Hot plus a separate electric water heater? I thought all the Hydro Hot/Aqua Hot units had both electric element which can heat the water (up to a point) plus the diesel burner which can provide pretty much unlimited hot water. Both the electric element and the burner heat boiler coolant in a tank inside the Hydro Hot. Domestic water runs thru a coil that is in contact with the boiler tank which heats the water. On some units the coil is on the outside of the boiler tank and, on some like my Aqua Hot, the coil is actually inside the boiler tank.

[backagain]

Originally Posted by smlranger

So are you saying you have the Hydro Hot plus a separate electric water heater?

Yes. Seems redundant. I guess if my Hydro-hot goes out on the electric and diesel, I still have a hot water source. Other wise, my Hyrdo-hot works pretty much the same as your Aqua-hot