You have an early morning event so you had to wake up very early. But as you turn on the shower, you realize there is no hot water coming out.
Like other home fixtures, water heaters malfunction now and then. Despite this, millions of homeowners in the United States invest in water heaters. Experts project that the water heater market will reach over $48.5 million by 2025.
Moreover, there are many different types of water heaters available. But even the best of them cannot guarantee perfection. Technical problems will always arise sooner or later.
What should you do next if your water heater malfunctions? Continue reading below to find out.
Things to Do When There’s No Hot Water
The first instinct of some homeowners is to seek professional water heater repair when there is no hot water coming out of the shower. Before you do so, there are things you can do that may resolve the issue. Let’s take a look at some of them below.
1. Patience on the Water Heater
Sometimes, you simply need to practice more patience on your water heater. This means giving your heater some time to re-heat the water.
This usually happens when there are guests who shower back to back with the regular members of the household. Because more people are showering in succession, it can drain the existing hot water.
Before calling anyone or tweaking anything, give you heater a few minutes. Check back and see if it the hot water returns. If it does, it means the heater required a little bit more time to do its job.
2. Check the Gas Supply
Are you using a water heater that runs on gas? Try checking the gas supply first before doing anything.
First thing you should do is to turn the gas control knob to “Pilot.” Thereafter, take off the cover of the pilot light and the burner. You can usually find this right at the water heater’s bottom portion.
Now look closely to see if there is a small flame inside. If there is one lit, then your water heater’s gas supply is still good. If there is none, then the problem may concern your pilot light.
3. Examine the Pilot Light
Moving on to the pilot light, if you don’t see any flame upon inspection, it means you need to relight your pilot light. Traditionally, manufacturers print the instructions for relighting a pilot light on the tank.
But if you don’t see one, you start the process by turning off the regulator. Give the heater about five minutes. This will give the gas enough time to disperse.
Thereafter, turn the regulator to “Pilot” then press the ignition button for a minute. From “pilot,” turn the regulator to “on.”
In case your water heater does not come with a self-igniting feature, you have to fire up the pilot manually. Use a kitchen lighter and place the flame near the pilot burner to ignite it.
4. Zoom-in on the Burner
Sometimes, the burner itself is the root of the problem. To check the condition of the burner, turn it off and set the thermostat to 120 degrees.
Switch on the hot water faucet and let the water run. After a few seconds, check the burner and see if it ignites while the water is running. If it doesn’t, then you need to check on your thermostat.
5. Check the Thermostat
Dealing with a faulty thermostat is tricky. Several issues may cause your thermostat to malfunction. Sometimes, it’s as simple as adjusting the thermostat’s temperature.
In some cases, it trips because the water is extremely hot. The worst-case scenario is that you need to replace it with a new one because of age.
Your first step is to adjust the water temperature on the thermostat. Be careful, however, if you’re using an electric water meter. Most of the time, the thermostat on these models is deep behind an access panel.
Moreover, an electric thermostat is set at the factory. This means it doesn’t require any tweaking or changing. In such cases, it is best to call a professional to help you out.
6. Mind the Tank’s Size
Sometimes, the problem involves your family’s growing water requirements. Thus, you need to re-examine the size of your hot water tank. You need to determine if the size still meets the needs of your entire household.
One good way of addressing the problem is to invest in a utility water heater. Install this in your main bathroom to lessen the demand from your main water heater.
7. Look at the Breaker
One of the most common culprits for electric water heater malfunctions is a tripped breaker. This is tricky since you will not see an “off” position for a tripped breaker. To reset the breaker, simply switch it to the “off” position then return it to the “on position.”
But if the problem persists and happens too often, you may need to call your electrician. Keep in mind that water heaters require a lot of power. Thus, they need to have a circuit of their own.
8. Revisit the Heating Element
Last but not least, you need to check on the heating element of your water heater. The age and usage of your heater contribute to faulty water heating element. When this happens you will likely need to replace it with a new one.
Thankfully, replacing it is not as hard as you think it is. First, turn off the power. This will also ensure your safety during the replacement process.
Now, drain the tank by shutting the cold water inlet valve off. At the bottom of the tank, connect a garden hose then open the drain valve.
Remove the current heating element. You may need a water heater element wrench for unscrewing. After removing the bolts, lift the element straight out.
Install the new element. Make sure to use new rubber gaskets to keep leaks at bay. Complete the process by turning off the drain valve and refilling the tank with water.
Let’s Fix Your Water Heater, Today!
Now that you know some of the basic troubleshooting for your water heater, you will no longer panic whenever there is no hot water in the morning.
But if these tips don’t work, don’t hesitate to call us so we can take a look. We provide reliable water heater repairs and other plumbing services. Get in touch with us today to book an appointment.
Let us fix your heater and other plumbing concerns, today!
