Having to take a cold shower can be annoying. What is going on when the water doesn’t get hot in the bathroom or kitchen?
One of the most common reasons for a home’s hot water not getting hot is a faulty water heater. A lot of water usage or, an uninsulated water pipe are other common causes. Let’s examine this in more detail.
[ez-toc]
If the water in your home is not getting hot, there is almost certainly a problem with the hot water heater. Your water heater heats water as it passes through it. As the water heats up, it expands, which forces the hot water out of the water heater faster. A hot water heater that is not getting hot is a water heater that is not heating water efficiently.
So, how can you tell if your water heater is not getting hot? Here are a few tips:
Check the water heater
The first thing to do if the hot water isn’t getting hot is to check the water heater. Modern water heaters have a display. This can show an error code. You can look up what this means by entering the brand in Google, together with the error code.
This can give a clue of what needs to happen. Your plumber can help you with this. Make sure that your water heater has electricity. Modern heaters have a lot of sensors and don’t work without electricity. If water leaks out of them, it can indicate problems. We have discussed how you can fix a Bosch water heater here.
If you have a gas heater, it needs to have access to gas before it can work. Make sure that there is no gas leak. Gas often has a smell so you should notice it if there is a problem. These gasses can be dangerous so look into this by calling your gas supplier or plumber.
In some instances restarting your water heater is all that needs to happen. In other instances, your plumber will have to replace some parts or get them cleaned. It is also possible that there is an issue with the exhaust. Plumbers have a lot of tools and sensors to see where the issue is.
They can often fix the water heater in under an hour. Make sure that you get a plumber that knows how to work with the brand of water heater that you have. They will have spare parts and can help you faster.
Avoid issues with water heaters
It is important to clean your water heater every 2 years. You can also flush the water heater when needed. We have discussed how to do this HERE.
Water heaters also have settings. It is possible that someone changed the settings and lowered the temperature of the water that the water heater produces.
Older water heaters can be very inefficient. They are frequently made of a lower grade of steel than newer water heaters are and are often designed for smaller tanks and less water pressure.
If your old water heater is more than eight years old, it is almost certainly an older, inefficient heater.
If your old water heater is more than eight years old, it is almost certainly an older, inefficient heater. Replacing your old, inefficient water heater with a high-quality replacement water heater can solve many low hot water pressure problems.
Some water heaters have a tank that has hot water. If you shower for a long time, this tank can get empty.
Your water heater also shouldn’t be too far from your shower or faucet.
Check your faucet
If your water heater is working correctly, there can be an issue with the faucet. Air can enter your pipes. You can open up the cold water tap and hold your hands over the faucet. Wait 15 seconds and remove your hand.
This should remove the airlock that stops the hot water from flowing. This is discussed in the video above. Once the pressure has evened out, you should get hot water again. This is not something that you should do often. If it is a common problem, you should contact your plumber.
Do you get cold water in the entire home or only on one faucet? If it is only in one location, it is possible that you have to adjust the faucet. A lot of people have the habit of using the same temperature when they shower. It is possible that someone changes the temperature setting on the faucet and this can lead to colder water.
Your water heater gets the signal to send colder water and this is what you receive. Turn the faucet to the hot stand and it should work again. It is also possible that the faucet was not properly installed and that hot and cold are mixed. Be careful when you adjust this as you can get a lot of cold or hot water on you when you are adjusting it.
Remove clogs in your water pipes
It is possible that water or calcium is causing problems for your water heater. To fix this, you can add a water filter or a water conditioner. Water heaters have to process a lot of water and if there is dirt in it, they can stop working properly. For this reason, it is important that you check your water to make sure that there are no particles that can cause issues.
You also have to add salt to your water conditioner and clean your filter regularly. A lot of people forget to do this and this can cause problems with their water heater and other devices in the home.
Calcium can also build up in your pipes and slow the water flow down.
Insulate pipes
During winter, pipes can get quite cold if they run in an unheated space. For example, a lot of people have copper or PEX pipes running in their attic. If the pipes are not insulated, they can cool down. This can cool the water inside them as well and therefore it can take a longer time to get hot water. Adding insulation is quite easy and cheap.
It can also save you some money so it can be a great idea to add it to your pipes. This can be done in less than 1 hour. You can also add special lints that keep your pipes warm. This makes sure that your pipes won’t burst during the winter.
During the winter, your water pipes can freeze in some locations. This can result in a lot of damage. For this reason, it is a great idea to insulate them with some foam.
This is something that is quite easy to do and the perfect DIY project.
Conclusion
There are many reasons why your home’s hot water may not be getting hot. Replacing your old, low-quality water heater with a high-quality replacement water heater can solve many low hot water pressure problems. Improving the pressure in your home can also solve many low hot water pressure problems.
