Why You Have No Hot Water And How To Fix The Issue

Posted on: 20 December 2022

Not getting hot water can be a bugbear for anyone who's accustomed to the convenience and reliability of a modern hot water system. While some problems require professional diagnostics and repair services, you can quickly find and fix others if you know what you're doing.

Here are three common culprits behind no hot water in your home, and what to do to fix the issue.

Your Hot Water System Has No Power

The first thing you should do before checking your water heating system for problems is to turn off the power supply. Disconnecting the power helps create safe conditions for you to inspect the unit.

If you have an electric water heater, locate your home's main electrical panel and flip OFF the main breaker. This eliminates the need to shut OFF the power to individual circuit breakers. If you heat your water with gas, turn off the main gas supply valve.

If, when disconnecting the power to your water heater, you realize that the power is turned OFF, therein lies the problem. Turning the power back ON will restore your hot water supply as long as the lack of power was the only problem.

You Have Run Out Of Hot Water

Sometimes, no hot water is an indication that you have exhausted your hot water supply.

All water heaters, whether storage-type or tankless, have limited capacity to produce hot water. When your domestic hot water usage exceeds the amount of hot water your water heating unit produces, you'll experience hot water shortages in your home.

If the situation is due to a temporary surge in your hot water demand, you can fix the problem by adjusting your water usage schedule to accommodate the change. If you have visiting relatives, for example, encourage everyone to reduce their use of hot water to accommodate the visitors.

If you're constantly running out of hot water because you have outgrown your current hot water system, it may be time for a water heater replacement.

There's Excessive Sediment In Your Hot Water Tank

If you get your hot water from a storage water heater and you can't remember the last time you cleaned it, the sediment that falls to the bottom of your hot water tank over time might be causing you problems.

When a thick layer of sediment collects at the bottom of the tank, it creates thermal insulation, which prevents the water from becoming hot. To fix the issue, you'll need to flush your hot water tank to remove the sediment layer. Once the tank is completely clean, refill it with fresh, clean water. 

If you encounter a hot water problem you can't fix yourself, don't hesitate to contact a residential plumbing service, such as Ace Plumbing and Drain Cleaning.

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