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Running out of hot water when you’re in the middle of a shower, dishwashing session, or load of laundry can be troubling for any homeowner. Water heaters are designed to work continuously so you don’t run out of this necessity, but sometimes issues arise that leave you in the cold. Here are some potential causes to look out for and steps to take when you find yourself in this situation.

Causes

Sometimes, a lack of hot water is simply due to overuse. If you’re running the shower, sink, laundry, and dishwasher at the same time, your tank may not be able to keep up with the demand.

If this isn’t the case, your hot water issues may be due to the heater losing connection with its power source. If it runs on electricity, the breaker to that part of your house may have tripped. If it uses gas, the connection may have come loose.

water heatersIn other instances, the water heater may simply be failing. Sometimes, the tank can spring a leak, or the heating elements may wear down over time.

What to Do

If you’ve run out of hot water while running multiple fixtures and appliances, you may simply need to wait a few minutes for your water heater to catch up.

Additionally, try to spread out things like showers and laundry so you don’t run into this problem. However, if this happens regularly, you may need to replace your water heater with one that runs at a higher capacity.

If that’s not the problem, start by checking for the obvious signs, like a tripped breaker, loose gas connections, or water around the tank. If you’re not able to solve the problem quickly by tightening a connection or resetting your breaker, call a plumber to inspect the heater and fix the problem.

 

If you’re having water heater issues and need a professional plumber to help, call Pelner-Williams Plumbing & Heating in Wisconsin Rapids, WI. Serving homeowners throughout Central and South-Central Wisconsin, the plumbing contractor offers drain cleaning, repair and replacement for water heaters, and emergency plumbing services. They also service HVAC equipment and septic systems. Visit the website to see a full list of options. To request a quote, call (715) 424-7800.

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