Can someone tell me and my son, why is it when u turn onthe cold water in Arizona (phoenix) you dont get cold?

Question

water but it comes out warm to hot? (we have a bet rideing on this and i wont say what eaither of os thinks it is, you tell us and the majority will dside if i owe my son or he owes me lol)

Answer 1

Heat energy is always being transferred.  Some things absorb heat energy better than others.  Water is very good at absorbing heat energy.  The pipes in your house are more than likely located in places where the water inside them can sit and absorb away.  Until you let the heated water flow out of the pipe and replace with cooler water from its source, it is going to feel warm.  Plus, the energy of the water will transfer a bit to the in-flowing water warming it, until all the energy has been taken away.  Plus, the pipes are going to have some stored up energy too which they'll transfer to the incoming water.

So, it's ambient heat energy from the environment heating up the pipes and the sitting water in them.

Try timing how long it takes for cold water to show up about an hour before sunrise compared to mid afternoon.  I would bet you get cold water sooner.

Answer 2

The ground is warm. Why would you expect to get cold water in Arizona?:) No one cools the water, therefore it is as 'cold' as the ground. The average ground temperature at that depth corresponds to the annual average temperature. For Phoenix, that would be 73 degrees F. Factor in sunlight exposure when the pipe emerges from the ground, and it's even warmer.  

Answer 3

Is the weather nice and hot there? If so it is warming the ground and the pipe within the ground, therefore heating the "cold" water as it travels to your taps.