My hot water isn’t as hot as it should be. Have you ever said this to yourself?
The last thing you want in the middle of winter is to start running the shower only to realise that your hot water isn’t heating as well as it should be. A cold day always starts or ends on a good note if it involves a hot shower.
There are a few reasons that your hot water may not be heating as well as it should be, and not all of them mean having to rush out and get a new hot water system.
Let’s take a look at some of the reasons that can cause your hot water to be luke warm or not quite as hot as you would like.
Check the thermostat
The first thing you should do when you notice that your hot water isn’t as hot as it should be is to check the thermostat. It could be as simple as it has been knocked and isn’t sitting where it should be.
If this doesn’t fix the problem, then there are a few other things that may be causing the issue.
Broken dip tube
If your hot water tank is older (20+ years old) than this can be a common reason as to why your hot water isn’t heating. The job of the dip tube is to push cold water to the bottom of the tank where it can be heated. If this tube is broken, it is not able to push the water down properly – resulting in it not heating.
A broken gas valve
If you notice a smell that is similar to rotten eggs or garbage then it is possible that your hot water issue is stemming from a broken gas valve. Tanks that are over 10 years old are more susceptible to cracks and breaks in the gas valve. If you believe this is the problem, it is important to get a professional out as soon as possible to fix it as it can be a big safety concern.
Broken internal heating element
Electric hot water systems tend to have two internal heating elements, if one of these is not working it means that the other needs to work twice as hard to heat the water. This can result in it not getting to the optimal heat as one doesn’t have enough power to do it on its own.
Leaking tank
If your hot water tank has a leak then this can also be the cause of your water not heating as well as it should be. It can be easy to confirm if you have a leak by looking around the base of the tank and seeing if there is a constant damp spot or if you can see water pooling from the tank.
If you have a leak, it is important not to try and fix it yourself. Call a professional and they can either fix or replace if it is unable to be fixed.
The reason behind your hot water coming out cold or luke warm can vary with many different reasons behind why. It is best to call in a professional to help you determine the reason and give you the best way forward in order to rectify it.
At Rozelle Plumbing, we are here to help with all your plumbing needs. If you are having hot water issues, don’t leave it until another day – get in contact with the team today and let us find the problem and provide you with a solution.
