Stop Cold Shower Shock: The 6 Reasons You Need Hot Water Plumbing Repair

There is nothing like crawling out of bed and stepping straight into a hot shower! There is also nothing as uncomfortable as crawling out of bed, expecting to step into a hot shower, and getting a cold shower instead. Ugh! What a terrible start to a day!

If this happened in your home once, it might be an unfortunate coincidence of water use. But if this happens far too often, it is worth investigating and correcting. Here are the most frequent plumbing repair reasons behind running out of hot water at inconvenient times in residential settings.

6 Reasons Hot Water Problems Require Plumbing Repair

1. Temperature Setting. The typical range of settings on a water heater is between 120 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit. The lower setting is used to save energy and to prevent scalding. The higher setting is preferred for cleaning activities, such as a dishwasher. If your setting is on the low side and you consider bumping the setting higher, be prepared to mix the hot water with cold for safety and comfort during showers.
2. Hot Water Usage. The average shower requires 10 gallons of water, while washing a load of clothes may use 25 gallons of water. Intentionally scheduling cleaning activities and other hot water use activities to avoid shower times is a better use of water resources. It could just prevent running out of hot water during shower time in the future.
   
   A good rule of water use is to use no more than 75% of the available hot water at any given time. This ensures that sufficient hot water will be available for every need.

1. Small Tank. Your household’s peak hour usage should determine the proper size of your water heater: 30-40 gallons is sufficient for 1 or 2 people, 40-50 gallons is sufficient for 3 or 4 people, and larger families need larger water heaters. If your tank is too small for your family size, a larger tank may be the solution. Determine the size of your tank to ascertain whether it is large enough to fit the need. If the tank is too small, replacement will be necessary.
2. How old is your water heater? If you can’t remember when it was installed, the serial/model number plate can provide the information necessary to determine its age. Typical tanked water heaters last 10 to 12 years; insufficient hot water might be a symptom of wear. Cold showers may be a reality until the tank is replaced.
3. Sediment Build Up. While the water quality in the U.S. is better than in most other countries, it also varies by location. One of those location variables in water quality is the content and quantity of minerals in the water. This is significant for tanked water heaters, since after the water enters the tank, the minerals have a chance to settle to the bottom of the tank. The accumulation of mineral sediment will eventually coat and cover the heating element and the bottom of the tank, acting as an insulation. This reduces the efficiency of the heating element or burner assembly and reduces the amount of available hot water.
4. Broken Dip Tube. Hot water rises, and the design of the water heater takes this into consideration. Hot water is drawn from near the top of the tank, and a plastic tube, the dip tube, introduces the cold water into the bottom of the tank. This puts the cold water in direct contact with the heating element/burner assembly and avoids drawing cold water from the tank. If the dip tube is broken, cold water is likely to be drawn before it can be heated. This is a definite need to call the plumbing repair experts at Doctor Cool. 

Don’t settle for the shock of unexpectedly cold water; sediment, a broken dip tube, or an old tank all require immediate attention. Ensure your family has reliable, safe, and efficient hot water by addressing these plumbing repair and water heater problems now. Our certified plumbing repair technicians specialize in diagnosing and performing expert plumbing repair to restore your system to peak performance. Call us today to schedule your plumbing repair service appointment and finally put an end to uncomfortable cold showers!

Let Doctor Cool assist with all of your sewer line maintenance questions. Call Doctor Cool & Professor Heat today at 281-516-5935 or email Doctor Cool and let our professional plumbing repair contractors assist with all of your plumbing repair, sewer line maintenance, and installation needs.