Hot water is a luxury that modern homeowners don't want to live without. There are few things as jarring as turning on a faucet expecting hot water, only to be greeted with a frigid flow.
Being able to troubleshoot your water heater can help you avoid going without hot water in your home.
Here are three potential reasons why your faucets aren't delivering hot water, and some solutions you can use to restore your water temperature to normal.
1. Improperly Set Thermostat
All water heaters come equipped with a thermostat that allows you to set the maximum temperature for your hot water supply.
Experts say that setting your water heater's temperature to 120 degrees Fahrenheit could save money. For some people, this setting may be too low.
Most modern water heaters are set to 140 degrees Fahrenheit before leaving the factory. Check the setting on your water heater's thermostat and adjust the temperature as needed to restore your hot water.
2. Damaged Dip Tube
If you have a water heater with a storage tank, you will find a dip tube inside the tank. The dip tube is responsible for supplying cold water in the storage tank.
When the dip tube is in working condition, it shuttles cold water to the bottom of the tank. This allows the cold water time to become properly heated before being drawn out of the tank through your faucets.
Since dip tubes are made from plastic, they can crack or break over time. This type of damage lets cold water escape from the dip tube before reaching the bottom of the storage tank. Replace a damaged dip tube to restore your hot water supply.
3. Sediment Buildup
Many homes have hard water. The trace minerals within hard water can settle and accumulate on the bottom of your water heater's storage tank.
Eventually, the sediment buildup will prevent the heating element found at the bottom of the storage tank from bringing up the temperature of your water supply. It's important to monitor the amount of sediment inside your water tank.
A professional plumber can be called in to drain the storage tank and remove any sediment buildup when your water isn't getting as hot as you would like.
You don't have to live without hot water. Make sure that you maintain and repair your water heater often to ensure you always have access to hot water inside your home.
Contact a water heater repair service near you to learn more.
Over the years, the number of options for hot water heaters has increased significantly. Not only are there traditional tank-style hot water heaters, but there are also on-demand units that heat water as you need it instead of storing and maintaining large volumes. Unfortunately, with so many choices, homeowners often find themselves overwhelmed by the options. That's why this site is here. We created this blog to help homeowners like you understand the different types of water heaters in the hopes that the knowledge will make it easier for you to select your next one. Check out the information on this site to help as you shop for your hot water heater.