The Cold-Water Conundrum: What to Do When You Run Out of Hot Water

Possible Reasons Why You’re Running Out of Hot Water

Here are the possible reasons why you don’t have enough hot water:

Your Water Heater Just Isn’t Big Enough.

Your tank water heater might not have enough capacity to meet the demand. If you have a larger usage pattern with fixtures such as soaking tubs, body sprayers, or rain head showers, this can quickly deplete an average sized water heater. Additionally, the number of people as well as the length of a shower or usage pattern in a home can contribute to the amount of hot water used in a given time frame. If you have a tankless water heater, this product will still need to be sized appropriately for your usage patterns.

Sometimes water heaters are installed for one need but end up serving another. For example, newlyweds install a small water heater but over time develop a large family. A tankless water heater is installed in a small home, but a large addition is added. In these types of situations, the water heater will likely have a hard time keeping up with demand.

Another consideration is Recovery Time. This is a measure of how quickly a tank type water heater can heat its entire tank once the hot water in that tank is depleted. If the demand is too great, the hot water in the tank will be depleted and you’ll need to wait for the water heater to fully recover.

Your Water Heater is Getting Old.

As water heaters age, their performance and efficiency can decrease. Some possible issues:

• Sediment Buildup. Over time, mineral deposits and sediment can accumulate in your water heater. The accumulated sediment can also act as an insulator, preventing the burner or heating element from effectively heating the water. This can increase the water heater’s recovery time. As a result sediment build up can make your water heater less efficient and can shorten its lifespan.
• Bad Heating Element. If your thermostat is malfunctioning, it might not be telling your water heater to fire up when it should.
• Faulty Dip Tube. Your water heater’s dip tube directs incoming cold water to the bottom of the tank so the heating element or burner can heat that water quickly. If the tube is cracked or broken, cold water will mix with the hot water at the top of the tank just as you’re turning on the shower. That means the water coming out of your shower head won’t be as hot as you expect it to be.
  If you have an older water heater, your plumbing professional can help you determine if any of these issues are present. Don’t have a plumbing professional? Click here to find a Bradford White plumber near you.

Contacting Your Plumbing Professional

You don’t have to live without hot water when you need it! Your Bradford White plumber can help you troubleshoot your problem. In many cases, a simple service may be all that’s needed to dramatically improve your water heater’s performance.

In a routine service, your plumbing professional may:

• Flush Sediment: As noted above, removing sediment from your water heater’s tank can improve the performance, capacity, and efficiency of your water heater.
• Inspect and (if necessary) Replace Your Heating Element or Dip Tube: Your plumber will determine if your hot water issues are the result of a faulty heating element or cracked dip tube. If it is, these items can be replaced.
• Discuss Sizing and Upgrades: If your water heater is nearing the end of its lifespan, now might be the best time to consider a new Bradford White water heater. To ensure a never-ending supply of hot water, you could choose to install a properly-sized Infiniti^® Tankless Water Heater. To maximize efficiency and save money on your energy bills, you could select an advanced AeroTherm^® Series G2 Hybrid Electric Heat Pump Water Heater. Or you could choose a new Bradford White gas or electric residential tank water heater including larger capacity models that will give you all the hot water your family could ever need.