There’s nothing better than taking a nice, long hot bath after a long day at work. It helps relax both your brain and muscles so that you can sleep easily at night. But what happens when you try to take a hot bath, and you end with icy water from your shower head?
Types of Hot Water Systems
A hot water system is a standard fixture in Australian homes. They’re used most days, except perhaps when no one is at home. But regardless of whether they’re being used on a daily basis, most household owners don’t exactly bother to check their water heater. We have this notion that when things are working perfectly, they’re doing great.
However, as one of the easily neglected appliances at home, water heaters also tend to get issues often.
There are two types of hot water systems in homes: it’s either an electric water heating system or a gas water heating system. Different problems can arise from these systems, but fortunately, most of them are relatively simple structures that even household owners.
Most Common Water Heating Issues
Like every appliance at home, you can encounter several issues with your water heater. Here are some of the most common problems you might encounter:
- No hot water anywhere in the house.
Perhaps the most common issue with a hot water system is that it’s not producing any hot water anywhere in the house. This can happen with both an electric or gas water system. Firstly, check all faucets in your home to ensure there is no hot water anywhere.
Several factors can cause it. For example, the water heater’s gas burner or the electric heating elements are no longer working. If your water heater is gas-powered, the pilot light might have been blown out.
It’s best to have it diagnosed by a professional plumber so they can provide the best solution possible.
- No hot water in parts of your home.
Sometimes, you have hot water in the kitchen but not in your bathroom. A few different things can cause this common water heater problem, but this usually means the water heater itself is working.
The problem might be caused by the following:
- Cross connections – This can happen when a plumber makes a mistake when installing a pipe or a failing mixing valve. Check to see if there’s full pressure on the hot water side, but there’s no hot water coming out.
- Mineral deposits – Mineral deposits can accumulate when pipes haven’t been replaced for a long time. These accumulated chunks could restrict water flow.
- Distance – The heater might be far away from the fixture where you can’t get any hot water, and the water might be travelling through unheated space.
Furthermore, if you have a water recirculating pump system at home, a defective valve might be allowing cold water into the hot water side.
- Too little hot water
Your heater is working, but you’re not getting enough hot water. If this happens, you can check the tank’s thermostat and adjust it to your preferred heat. But be careful as things can get hot fast.
However, if this isn’t working, your heater might be too small, so it can’t meet your need for hot water. Your best choice is to have it replaced. But, you can avoid this problem beforehand by checking the capacity of the water heater.
If your water heater is the right size, a heating element might have failed.
- Too much hot water
It’s also common for households to get too much hot water to the point where it’s not comfortable anymore. Good thing, this can be easily remedied by checking the tank’s thermostat and adjusting it, since it might have been set up too high.
- Leaking tank
Water leaks can significantly damage your home if you notice it a little too late. Be sure that you always check your tank, especially when it hasn’t been changed in years. Frequently, tank leaks are associated with tank corrosion. It may also be due to loose heating elements.
Regardless of how small the leak is, call a professional plumber as soon as you can. The best solution is to have the tank replaced to prevent more significant problems later on.
