Perhaps your shower turned frigid, or your last hand washing experience was cold. No matter how you noticed a lack of hot water flowing from your faucets, learn why it happens here. You’ll also learn what a plumber does to fix the issue.

The Reasons for No Hot Water

If your family uses too much hot water at once, the taps run cold. For example, if two or more people take long, hot showers, and you use major appliances that rely on hot water, such as the dishwasher, your home will temporarily run out if you have a traditional water heater. Staggering hot water use typically solves this problem.

Water heater tanks that are too small for their households also cause hot water issues. Tanks receive ratings based on how many gallons of water they heat per hour, so if you use more water in an hour than the tank can provide, you’ll run out. Standard water heater tanks hold anywhere from 20 to 80 gallons.

Additional reasons for no hot water include sediment buildup in the appliance’s tank. Excessive sediment creates less room for hot water, making it easy to deplete the store quickly. A lack of warm water can also occur because the tank’s heating element has burned out due to age, sediment interference, or sizing issues.

Other damaged or worn parts also cause hot water problems, such as a faulty thermostat or dip tube problem. A type of line, the dip tube moves cold water to the bottom of the tank where the heating element resides. If it sustains damage, it will combine hot and cold water to create tepid tap results.

How a Plumber Solves the Problem

If your hot water issue isn’t due to overuse or a thermostat that’s set too low, the plumber will measure the size of the tank and make recommendations if it is undersized. The plumbing professional may also recommend a tankless water heater that warms water exclusively on demand to avoid tank sizing complications.

Should the problem have to do with a faulty heating element or another part, the plumber will replace the affected component and test the water heater to ensure it’s functional.

If you’re dealing with a damaged dip tube, for example, the plumber will remove the vent stack at the top of the appliance and its metal shield to manually extract the broken part and insert a new tube that gets screwed into place.

For sediment buildup problems, the professional will turn off the appliance and drain it to remove the sand and silt. 

Allow the plumbers at A All Valley Plumbing & Sewer Service to fix hot water issues in your home. Based in Cincinnati, OH, and serving the Tristate area since 1989, this plumbing company offers 24/7 emergency services and provides parts and manufacturer warranties depending on the job. Call (513) 733-3311 today to schedule an appointment or visit the company online for service details.