There’s nothing quite as satisfying as a hot shower. But if you turn your shower handle and find the hot water isn’t working, you may wonder what went wrong.
While an isolated faucet issue can interfere with your preferred water temperature, cold water coming from your shower or faucets usually indicates an issue with your water heater. Let’s take a look at the different reasons your water heater might not be working along with suitable replacements. Call the top-rated professionals at Hutchinson for water heater services when there’s no hot water in your house.
6 Reasons Why Your Hot Water Isn’t Working
When asking why your hot water isn’t working, it’s important to know the different reasons why you could experience water heater issues in your home. In most cases, it’s difficult to diagnose exactly why your hot water isn’t working unless you call a professional.
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Water Heater Tank Is Leaking
Leaking water tanks can cause a host of problems in your home, making it one of the more dangerous signs of water heater decline. If you notice water pooling under your hot water heater, there’s a good chance your system will require a replacement. Check the valves, connections, and pipes from your water tank to investigate the source of the leak; if every component appears to be undamaged, call the professionals to perform a replacement.
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Broken Thermostat
Incorrect thermostat settings can render your water heater ineffective, so make sure you set the thermostat somewhere between 122ºF and 140ºF. You can resolve a tripped high-temperature cutoff switch by shutting off your system’s power, resetting the breaker, and restoring power. Otherwise, higher-level damage won’t respond to a simple system reset and will require a professional replacement.
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Tripped Circuit (or Another Electrical Problem)
Your home’s circuit breakers protect your electrical infrastructure from power surges and the damage they can cause. When you use multiple high-powered appliances at the same time, you might trip a breaker. If any of these breakers connect to your hot water heater, the system won’t function until you reset the breaker and restore power.
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Pilot Light Went Out
Homes with a gas water heater might rely on a pilot light to fuel the heating process. Flames that go out will stop the heating process immediately. To regain hot water in your home, follow these steps to relight your pilot light:
- Turn off the regulator for about 10 minutes, allowing any lingering gas to clear from the area.
- Turn the ignition knob to “pilot,” and hold it there for about a minute. Heaters with a self-ignition will light after switching it from “pilot” to “on.”
- For systems without a self-ignition function, you should use a long lighter to relight the pilot while holding the knob on “pilot.”
- Wait another five minutes for the heater to restore hot water in your home.
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Gas Leak or Valve Failure
If you’re asking why your hot water isn’t working, you should also be wondering if any leaks are occurring in your system. For gas water heaters, gas line leaks and valve failure are two of the main culprits of hot water issues. Examine your gas line to check for a safe connection and to rule out hazardous gas leaks, both of which require professional maintenance and repairs.
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Broken Heating Parts
When the heating element of your water heater breaks, it’s time for a total system replacement. Attempting to replace the heating element on any water heater that’s over 10 years old is a waste of time and money.
Is It Time to Upgrade Your Water Heater?
While professional water heater repairs might offer the best solution for certain systems, older heaters facing significant decline require more comprehensive solutions. Knowing when to replace your water heater ensures you don’t go too long without the comforts of hot water in your home. Whether you have a gas or electric water heater, some of the top signs you should upgrade your water heater include:
- Your traditional water heater is over 10 years old
- Your tankless water heater is over 20 years old
- Requires are required more frequently
- Repair costs are increasing
- Damage like rust and corrosion is visible
- Strange noises and odors are produced during operation
- Your water heater can’t reach the desired temperature even after repairs and maintenance
If you notice any of the above signs of system decline, it’s time to call the home comfort system experts at Hutchinson to schedule a water heater replacement. Our professionals will examine your home’s current plumbing infrastructure and electrical framework to recommend a reliable replacement.
Another essential consideration is whether you want to install a traditional or tankless water heater. While traditional water heaters cost less and perform consistently, tankless models offer improved energy efficiency, longer lifespans, and lower operation costs. However, not every plumbing and electrical system can support tankless heaters.
After professionals recommend the best water heater and integrate your new system, you can expect hot water again soon after installation. Gas heaters will restore hot water about an hour after installation while electric models take about two hours. Regardless, getting a water heater upgrade will provide significant benefits to your home comfort, energy efficiency, and utility bills.
Schedule a Water Heater Repair Service With Hutchinson
Understanding the different causes of water heater breakdowns and potential service issues will let you know when to call professionals to keep the problem from persisting. The water heater experts at Hutchinson use the best tools and techniques to resolve issues with traditional and tankless water heaters. We work on both traditional and tankless heater models including Rheem, Stiebel Eltron, Bradford White, Bosch, A.O. Smith, Rinnai and more. Still have questions? call 856-208-5993 to consult a plumbing system expert at Hutchinson. We’re ready to assist you.