Have you noticed your hot water supply isn't what it used to be? Have you been forced to take too many lukewarm or cold showers because your hot water is gone while you're in the shower covered in soap? Determining whether your water heater needs repairs or maintenance can be difficult without inspecting your system. However, if your hot water supply has decreased over time, your system likely needs maintenance, like draining and flushing. If you are suddenly without hot water, then you could be experiencing a system failure due to worn elements or broken parts.
6 Tips to Improve Your Hot Water Output
Don't dismiss hot water shortage. If your hot water is running out before everyone's had a shower, there are a few tricks you can try that could solve the problem before you're forced to call for repairs.
- Adjust the Thermostat on the Water Heater: It's likely you've never adjusted the temperature controls on your water heater. The water is likely not hot enough to be mixed with cold water, and you're using more hot water to reach your desired overall temperature.
- Consider a Low Flow Shower Fixture: Maybe you have more water coming from your showerhead than necessary. Low flow showerheads have smaller holes, and when water is pushed through these fixtures, the water is pressurized and comes out slower.
- Create an Informal Hot Water Schedule: A hot water schedule can help you determine if all your water usage is isolated to certain times of the day. If you realize that everyone is showering, washing clothes, and using the dishwasher during the same time block, you can move chores around and create an informal schedule to prevent all of your water appliances from operating in a cluster.
- Insulate Your Pipes: When your hot water pipes aren't insulated or poorly insulated, you can suffer from heat loss while your hot water is being transported through your pipes. A plumbing expert can insulate your pipes and improve the efficiency of your water heater and plumbing system. Heat loss during transit leads to energy waste and can cause your appliances to work less effectively.
- Get Your Water Heater Serviced: A poorly maintained water heater will not perform well or produce as much hot water as it should. Water heaters can suffer from sediment and corrosion buildup, which can lead to reduced effectiveness. It takes longer for the water to heat when there's a buildup in the tank. Draining and flushing the water heater will quickly resolve these issues.
- Upgrade to a Larger Water Heater or Consider a Supplemental System: It's possible your hot water needs have changed over time, and you now need more hot water than you have in the past. Your tank could be in excellent work condition, but it could simply be too small to service your needs. You can work with a plumbing expert to install a secondary system to improve your hot water output.
Expert Water Heater Services Offered by Wallner Plumbing Heating & Air
If your water heater isn't getting the job done, you don't have to keep tolerating the problem. When our water heater experts at Wallner Plumbing Heating & Air arrive on the job, we start by performing a comprehensive inspection and assessment. We excel at diagnosis, and once we know the problem, we'll get it solved immediately. You don't have to keep running out of hot water! Once we've repaired your system, you can use your systems confidently and know you've taken your last cold shower.
The experts at Wallner Plumbing Heating & Air are available when you need us. Call now at (530) 223-5622 to schedule an appointment.
