I'm sure all of you have noticed this: If you go into the bathroom in your hotel room and turn on the hot water, whether it's at the sink or the shower, you get hot water very nearly instantaneously.
TOM: It's certainly not time enough to come up from the basement of the building.
RAY: Exactly! So, I'm convinced that the water heater has got to be under the sink, which is called a "point of use" hot water heater.
I immediately drop to my knees, and I'm on my back looking up under the sink and I see nothing. So, I decide to investigate. I walk up and down the corridor, figuring somewhere there's got to be a "Mechanicals" room where the water heater is, and it's obviously going to be right near my room.
I'm in Room 1120, there's 1121 next to me, 1119 on the other side, and I'm convinced that one of them is a phony.
All night long I'm tossing and turning. I can't figure this out. At 2:00 in the morning, I jump out of bed, I throw on a pair of undies and a robe, and I run to 1121 next door. I know this is the utility room. It's not a real hotel room, it's a phony room. I pound on the door, expecting no one would answer because all that's in there is the hot water heater.
A guy answers in his underwear, "Whaddaya want?"
So, I know that's not the answer. The next morning, I ask one of the chambermaids, "Where is the water heater on this floor?"
She says, "There's no water heater on this floor."
I ask the concierge, "Is there a water heater above us or below us?"
He says, "No, monsieur. All ze water heaters are in ze basement."
TOM: You didn't tell me you did all this!
RAY: I was up all night.
TOM: So was I. Some jerk was banging on my door!
RAY: The question is, if the water heaters are in the basement, and I'm on the 11th floor, how can I have hot water instantaneously?
Think you know? Drop Ray a note!
[ Car Talk Puzzler ]
