Is hot water on the left or right?

Author: Dr. Rigoberto Murphy DVM  |  Last update: Saturday, October 18, 2025

Ever wondered which side the hot water tap should be on? Well wonder no more. The hot water tap is on the left and the cold tap on the right. This rule applies to mixer taps as well with the handle positioned to the left for hot and right for cold water.

Why is hot water always on the left?

It's mostly an international standard that dates back a couple of hundred years ago. Back in the Victorian era, in the UK a law was passed that the hot water tap should be on the left to prevent any confusion for the blind, elderly and disabled.

Is the hot water valve on the left or right?

❖ One of the oldest expressions in plumbing is: “Hot on the left, cold on the right.” The code mandates that “hot” correspond to the left side of the fixture fitting for safety reasons. It has become an accepted practice to equate the left side of the faucet with hot water.

Does hot go on the left or right?

Since the hot wire carries electricity at all times, it made sense to place it on the side without a switch for safety purposes. However, in modern outlets, the switch is located at the top or bottom instead of the side, making the left side the hot side.

Is hot on the left or right shower?

“On the LEFT – which is an international standard. Hot Left, Cold Right.

How to determine which side is hot or cold water on sinks and showers

Is hot water left or right?

The hot water tap is on the left and the cold tap on the right. This rule applies to mixer taps as well with the handle positioned to the left for hot and right for cold water.

Is my shower left or right?

The easiest way to figure out which kind of tub you'll need is to stand in front of your shower as if you are going to go into it. If the drain is to your right you have a right handed tub, and if the drain is on your left you have a left handed tub.

Is hot on the right or left shower valve?

Conversely, the wall-mounted unit uses a right hand stem unit for cold and a left hand stem unit for hot. However, when the faucet or valve is installed on a slant back or onto a wall, lever handles should operate inversely. The reason for this is due to gravity.

Is hot water on the left or right washing machine?

When connecting the inlet hoses to the water shut-off valves and the Washer, make sure you connect the hot and cold water hoses properly. Traditionally, the home hot water shut-off is on the left and is marked red, while the cold water shut-off is typically on the right and is marked blue.

Which way to turn faucet for hot water?

In most cases, the handle for the hot tap turns in a clockwise direction, while the handle for the cold tap turns in a counterclockwise direction. This design is based on convention, and it is used to help people quickly and easily distinguish between hot and cold taps.

Which side are the hot and cold water supply lines located on?

Yes, the cold water line always goes in on the top right side of the water heater and then after the water get's heated it comes out of the left hot side and goes to the rest of the house.

Is the faucet handle on the left or right side?

A: Yes,faucet handle can be installed on the left hand side,right hand side,or in the middle,All is OK. Because faucet spout can 360 degree rotate.

Which way do you turn a hot water valve on?

When it comes to which way you should turn the valve, keep in mind the old saying “righty tighty, lefty loosey.” In other words, turning a valve clockwise or to the right, will restrict the flow of water, while turning it counterclockwise or to the left, will allow water to flow.

What side is hot and cold on a mixer shower?

Check the instructions that are included with the valve and feed the hot and cold supplies to the correct sides – hot is on the left and cold is on the right.

Which water line is hot and cold?

The main line immediately leads to water ready for cold water use. There's an additional step for hot water. It's where the water supply leads to the water heater, leading to water taps, showers, and other hot-water appliances in the house.

Why is my hot water constantly on?

Sediment buildup may be the reason you have a water heater constantly running. Over time, minerals in your water can settle at the bottom of the tank and form a sludge. This sludge can then block the heating element, preventing the water from heating up to the appropriate temperature.

Is washer and dryer right or left?

Most often, the washing machine is on the left with the dryer to the right for one simple reason — door hinges. The typical dryer is hinged on the right, so by positioning it on that side, the door opens out of your way as you transfer wet clothes from the washer.

Should water be on left or right side?

Your bread plate is the farthest item on the left, your meal is in the middle and your water (and other beverages) is to the right. I am now comfortable grabbing my napkin first and know I am setting the proper example. Order like you're picking up the tab.

Can I turn off hot water to the washer?

The valves for the supply of hot and cold water are typically located behind the washing machine. They can easily be turned off by turning them clockwise until you're unable to turn them any further.

Is hot water always on the left side?

So this is not random. It's actually a safety measure geared towards reducing the risk of accidental scalding. So for all you fellow lefties out there, not to worry. You see, we've long known that the hottest side is absolutely the left side.

Which valve is the hot water valve?

Two shut off knobs can be found under the sink. The left one is for the hot water and the right is for cold. Some utility room sinks may only be plumbed for cold water, in which case there will be only one knob. Turn these knobs clockwise to close the valve.

Which sink valve is hot water?

Typically in the US the left side is for Hot and the Right for cold. Even if you turn on Hot, the water will be cold while the water in the pipe between the Hot Water Heater and the sink flushes.

How do you tell the difference between a right hand and left hand shower door?

If the handle is on your left, then it's a left-handed door. Style of your bathroom: The style of your bathroom can determine the type of shower door you choose. For example, hinged doors work great in traditional bathrooms.

What is the rule of showering?

There is no universal rule for how often you should shower. Ultimately, maintaining good personal hygiene is essential, but it doesn't always require daily showers. The key is to strike a balance that works for your body, lifestyle, and climate.

Which side should shower drain be on?

In many tile installation forums, you'll be advised to locate the drain in the center because it's simplest to slope a tile shower drain in the middle (if you or your contractor are doing it by hand) to make the pitch consistent.

Previous article
What floor cleaner does not leave a sticky residue?
Next article
Why is my water coming through Brown?