Have you ever woken up really tired and walk into the shower for a nice hot shower? You turn on the shower and the steaming water pours down on you, but your tranquilizing moment is short-lived because the water slowly starts getting ice cold. Now before you blame your spouse or children, let’s take a closer look at why you are enduring ice-cold showers in the morning instead of the steaming hot water. The problem lies in many factors and your spouse or children aren’t one of them.
Signs of a Broken Water Heater
There are a few common signs you can see when a water heater needs immediate attention from a professional plumber, some of them include:
- Quickly running out of hot water
- Making strange noises
- Leaking
- Rusty or cloudy water
- Water that has an unpleasant odor or taste
Some of the reasons as to why your water heater is showing these signs are:
Burned Out Heating Element Leads to the Lack of Hot Water
Burned-out heating elements can be one of the main reasons why your hot water goes cold too quickly. Heating elements can burn out or can be too old for it to maintain a constant hot water supply. It is advised to check the heating element’s voltage using a continuity tester.
Accumulation of sediment
Oftentimes, when water travels down the pipes into your home, it can carry small solid materials. These materials collect and settle at the bottom of the hot water tank as sediment. Even though your water heater contains a filter, tiny impurities such as Calcium carbonate will find their way into the water heater. These minerals will build up at the bottom of the tank which takes up space and it leaves little space for hot water.
Faulty Tankless Water Heater
Most homeowners always go for longevity and durability in terms of purchasing water heaters. Therefore, people prefer to buy tankless hot water systems. This water heater does not have a heating tank therefore, improper installations can lead to the reduction of hot water. Tankless water heaters can be beneficial if monitored and maintained adequately, however, with a lack of adequate maintenance, the system can lose hot water quickly.
Old Water Heater
Every appliance has a set amount of life to it, even a water heater. The old-aged water heater will slowly diminish its constant supply of hot water. You need to know the life span of your water heater to ensure you receive an adequate amount of hot water.
Small Hot Water Tanks
When moving into a new house, people often forget to check the size of the hot water tanks. It is essential to have a water heater tank big enough to supply the number of people in each household. When you have guests over, you might notice the hot water running out faster than normal. This arises because of the size of the water heater tank.
Broken Dip Tube
A dip tube is essentially a plastic pipe that connects the cold-water inlet with the bottom of the tank. The tube’s function is to deposit oncoming cold water at the bottom of the water heater. If it has been defective, the cold water will mix with the heated water at the top of the tank. This will decrease the overall temperature of the water going into your shower.
Defective thermostat
All water heaters come with thermostats. These electric devices tell the water heater when to turn on the heating elements. The thermostat is responsible for maintaining an adequate water temperature. Most thermostat comes with a reset button but if it does not still work after being reset or you do not feel comfortable resetting, the best method is to call a plumber to repair it or replace it.
Poor Maintenance
Hot water heaters require regular inspection and maintenance. As the water heaters get old, sediments build up and you will need to inspect to ensure the accumulation is not preventing the supply of hot water. However, if you do not perform regular inspection, you will increase the chances of running out of hot water.
What to do next?
If you find any of the issues mentioned above, do not be alarmed. Immediately call CJ Drain & Plumbing to book an appointment with one of our plumbers. Our plumbers would be happy to examine your water heater and perform the necessary repairs needed to give you that steaming hot water again. Our plumbers would also be happy to offer you the best advice on what course of action to take to ensure you have a healthy water heater.
