Did you jump in the shower this morning and discover there's no hot water in your home? What a bad way to start the day! Fear not, because WaterSmart Systems & Plumbing is here to help. In this article, we outline the top five causes as to why you may have no hot water, and what you can do next.
For 25 years, WaterSmart has been offering expert plumbing services in Kitchener, Waterloo, and surrounding towns. If you have no hot water or are experiencing other plumbing issues, contact us today - no job it too big or too small!
No Hot Water? Here Are the Top 5 Causes
Once you discover you have no hot water, it's important to pinpoint the cause. You don't want to be stuck unable to bathe or properly do the dishes and launder your clothes for too long. To help you find the reason why your hot water may have disappeared, here's our list of the top 5 causes of no hot water in the home.
1. Blown fuse
A lack of hot water might be the result of a blown fuse or tripped breaker that has caused your heater to shut down. In most cases, resetting the breaker will be enough to get it up and running. If this is happening a lot, however, it might be worth replacing the breaker or fuse with a higher amperage unit.
In the event of a short in the wiring, that will not only prevent the heater from functioning properly, it's also a serious fire hazard. Be sure to check all wires for signs of damage and replace as needed.
A blown fuse or tripped breaker may be the reason you have no hot water
2. RAN OUT OF HOT WATER
One of the most common issues is quite simply an empty hot water tank. Using too much hot water in a short period of time will empty the tank’s supply faster than the heating elements can replace it.
Most tanks require half an hour to build up a sufficient supply once drained, so you'll be left with nothing but cold water in the meantime.
If this is a frequent occurrence, you may want to consider upgrading to a larger heater. Water heaters are often installed based on an estimate of the demand for the current residents.
Circumstances change, and you should make sure your heater is equipped to meet the currents demand of your household.
3. Leaking Hot Water Tank
Most of the time, a leaky hot water tank is caused by faulty connections or valves. If not properly addressed, this small nuisance can quickly turn into a major problem, namely serious flooding and water damage. Be very careful when checking for leaks because the water here may still be hot, despite it not reaching the upper levels of your home.
If you have a leaking hot water tank, call a plumber immediately.
4. Broken dip tube
The dip tube is where incoming cold water enters the water heater tank. If functioning properly, the dip tube shoots cold water to the bottom of the tank where it can be quickly and easily heated. A broken dip tube leaves water at the top of the tank, where the outlet for hot water also resides.
A broken dip tube, therefore, might mean cold water is being poured into your home’s hot water pipes before being adequately heated.
It's best to call a plumber to deal with this one!
5. Sediment buildup
Water that enters your heater tank often carries dissolved minerals, small amounts of sand, and other debris - especially in Kitchener-Waterloo and surrounding areas, where the water is especially hard.
While the water sits in and is heated by your water heater, this debris settles to the bottom of the tank. Since most water heater burners are at the bottom of the tank, a buildup of debris can make your water heater less effective.
Note: This issue is often accompanied by a pinging sound.
Here's a look at how to flush your hot water heater.
No hot water? Call WaterSmart!
A great plumber can be hard to find! With locations in Kitchener and Waterloo, the fully licensed and insured master plumbers at WaterSmart Systems & Plumbing are able to quickly and expertly perform any plumbing job.
For the past 25 years, it has been our policy to always do the job right the first time with a minimum of inconvenience to you - our customers are our number one priority.
Don't hesitate to contact us if you have no hot water, or if you require plumbing services of any kind.
You can trust WaterSmart to complete any size job with the highest quality workmanship and care - contact us today.
"We have had very low water pressure for years. When I asked Paul to come out to look at our water system. He pointed out where potential problem areas were and recommended a solution. To make a long story short, we now have fantastic water pressure in all areas of the home and the water is silky soft. Paul showed up at the time he said he would, was done quicker then expected and explained how everything would work. Great experience!"
- Rob Henry
