Nothing can compare to the disappointment when taking a shower early in the morning just to find out that the hot water is not working. The feeling of cold water running into your back is a wake-up call to check on your heater. It is infuriating that you’re preparing for work or school then, out of nowhere, this thing happens. It is uncomfortable to take a cold shower on a lovely morning to start your day.
Homeowners shouldn’t stress themselves too much about their water heater as there are simple steps to take to check what happened with it. There are a lot of factors to consider starting from a simple breakdown to a more complex thing that may need a plumbing professional. And here are why your hot water is not coming in the shower:
1. CHECK YOUR FIXTURES
Water Heater breakdowns can come from simple things. Sometimes when the faucet is running, and another fixture in the house that requires water is also running, the water heater is used spread out into your home. There is a chance that the hot water issue isn’t just in the shower but throughout the house.
Once this happens, go on and check your water heater to see if it overheated. If the water heater is being used over time, it will need some time to regenerate. If not, check the temperature and set it to a regulated temperature. A gas-type water heater, there is a possibility that the pilot light has broken and a fuse has blown out. If there is nothing wrong with the fuse, it might only be on the shower.
Also, if you have two shower areas and your water heater is centralized, one of your house members is also using the heater. In this case, you can check on them and find out who’s using the hot water.
2. THE CIRCUIT BREAKER BREAKS DOWN
Aside from the gas-powered water heater, the electric water heater broke down in time. Electric-powered water heaters rely too much on the supply of electricity. If circuit breakers have a tripped circuit, the current will be disrupted. However, this can easily be solved by checking if the switch has been flipped. You can flip the switch off and switch on again. Then, your water will heat up again in a couple of minutes.
3. ISOLATED SHOWER BREAKDOWN
There are situations where the hot water breaks down only in the shower. If the hot water valve has been shut off, the cold water will be the only one that will flow in the shower. Simply open the valve to get the water to heat up again if this is just the issue. Sometimes, people forget to turn on and open the valve for the hot water shower.
Clogged showers and valve blockage are also factors why the hot water isn’t coming out. The signs that this situation happens is when there’s only a short period when the hot water is running. Valve blockage may come from foreign object build-up. These can be fixed by cleaning the valves or replacing them. And once you’ve cleaned or changed these parts, your hot water will be back and running again.
4. WATER LEAKAGE
Another reason hot water isn’t running properly is leakage in the pipes. This is a common issue to be encountered in the shower. Water leakage can be found in the lower part of the tank. There are visible droplets of water that even though the shower has been shut off, the water is still running non-stop.
Water heater leakage can occur for various reasons. Loose fitting, damaged temperature, and faulty pressure valve are examples of causes why there’s a leak in the heater. Defective components can result in an unregulated thermostat, and the temperature detector won’t function properly. The result will be overheating, and the regulated hot temperature for the shower won’t be coming out.
5. CHECK YOUR WATER TANKS
Aside from water leaks in the central heater, the water tanks are also exposed to water leakage. Over time, water tanks are prone to wear and tear. Nothing wrong with it, as it is normal. Water tanks can be located in the basement, attic, garage, closets, or rooftops. Once you’re done locating the water tanks, check with them immediately.
This thing in a water tank is usually steel wire coated in aluminum or magnesium. It helps the water tanks prevent rusting. The anode rod is prone to sediment build-up that is caused by water leaking. When the anode rod has sediment build-up or has been damaged, it can be why your hot water isn’t coming out.
6. CHECK THE COMPONENTS FOR WATERS
After the water leakage has been shut off, the water heater will still be able to break down. Right after a leak, the components will be flooded. Once the compartment has been flooded, the thermostat will be affected. Again, this always leads to overheating of the heater. You can quickly check them with the help of screwdrivers. Unscrew the panels of the heater and check if the component has water inside. If the thermostat has been flooded, it will need to get replaced.
Aside from the heater tank. Other components need to be checked, like the rubber parts in the shower valve. Once these parts have been worn out and distorted from old age, the water flow is restricted, creating swelling in the valve. The swelling will increase as the water temperature rises, and the rubber may lead to breaking down and traveling into the mixer. Resulting in an obstruction in the water valve and this part should be removed or flushed out away from the valve. This is why it is essential to also check every piece for obstructions.
7. THE WATER HEATER NEEDS A REPLACEMENT
After a long time, the water heater will be needing replacement. If the water heater is almost ten years old or beyond, it is more prone to break down from time to time. Aside from it being outdated, newer and modern water heaters are more versatile, durable, and reliable. They have further improvements in regulating water temperature and a better thermostat than the old ones.
The average lifespan of a water heater is between six to ten years. This is with proper maintenance included. Another good reason for replacing your water heater with newer models is that more recent models have more authentic parts in case of a breakdown. You can easily order parts online or even in malls. Plus, companies that released new modes of water also come with a warranty. This is one of the essential things to have these days, as repairs can cost you a lot of money.
CALL THE PROS
Some situations are beyond the control of a person’s grasp. Maybe the cleaning procedures of the components, the investigation of the source of why the hot water isn’t coming out or replacing parts where there’s been damage. Getting a professional plumber will save you all the hassle of doing these things, and you can expect the work to be done without any worries. Once you’ve experienced a frustrating situation like this, you can always call your trusty plumbing professional.