Why isn’t my hot water system working?
After a long day of work, all you want to do is take a nice hot shower and rest, the last thing you want to worry about is whether you’ll have hot water available. Thankfully today’s hot water systems are extremely reliable and have some of the best warranties around. Unfortunately sometimes things crash though. If your hot water system isn’t working properly, have a read through these common failures to find out how concerned you should be and how to get the problem fixed.
No hot water coming through the line or not enough to cover your household
One of the most common issues that comes up, is when a client notices they don’t have any hot water. While this might not be a problem for us during the summertime, in winter, most people do not like cold showers. It’s easy enough to perform a simple check of the breaker or power switch to see if there is still power going to the system. If that’s all good, there may be an issue with the temperature cut-off, heater element, or pilot light. These failures are an indication that you should call in a professional to service your hot water system sooner rather than later to avoid having to replace the entire unit.
If you are the last one to take a shower, or you’ve just done laundry or the dishes, and you find your hot water is cut short you should consider upgrading to a larger capacity. By contacting your local hot water company such as Hogan, they can help you decide on a hot water system that will better meet your household needs.
It’s too hot
Having the hot water being too hot can be a very unpleasant situation. Thankfully, this is usually a simple fix by turning the temperature setting down. However, if you have a faulty hot water tempering valve, it will cause your water to go above the correct, safe temperature. If changing the temperature on the system doesn’t work, call your local hot water system expert to come have a look and replace the valve if necessary.
Hot water with a nasty smell
If you’re noticing a rotten-egg smell coming from your taps when you use the hot water, the smell is indicative of a bacteria infestation in your hot water system. You don’t want to risk any of your household members getting sick, so we highly recommend you contact your local plumber or technician to come out and do a serious-yet-simple tank flush.
What is that strange noise?
Having a hot water system that makes unnatural or strange noises is a sign that something is going wrong with your system. There are a few reasons why it could be making noise. This could include a build up of sediment in the tank that’s collected near the element which will need to be flushed out. It could also be that the element itself could also be dying and needs to be replaced. If your water temperatures have been inconsistent, it i s generally a good indicator that you should have the heating element itself replaced.
Low water pressure
Having quick water, especially hot, is expected by most of us so when that water starts to slow down and the pressure decreases, we start to worry. There are a few causes for low hot water pressure from the valves being faulty or the pressure regulator going out to a concealed leak. In rare cases, sediment may build up in the pipes and you’ll need to get them reinstalled. In these instances, it is best to call your local hot water technician to come have a look and fix the problem before it gets worse.
Hot water takes too long to come through the line
Nothing is worse than wanting a nice hot shower and having to wait ages for the water to heat up. The longer the water takes to heat up, the closer you are to needing to potentially replace your hot water system. As systems age, they slow down just like most humans do. Call a plumber when you start to notice that the wait time on hot water through the line has increased. This hopefully, negates the need to have to replace the whole system.
Not enough water to cater to your household
If your system is old or was installed by your Uncle Rob, it’s possible there’s a mismatch in plumbing pipe sizes. Hot water systems should be installed by a licensed professional who will make sure that the pipes are the correct size. By working with a hot water system company like Hogan Hot Water and Air Conditioning, you will have the opportunity to pick the right system for your household’s water usage needs.
Leaks
There are a few reasons why your tank may be leaking. If the connections are loose, you’ll likely see little leaks, a simple tightening will help solve that problem. Faulty valves will need to be replaced to stop leaks, while a corroded tank will need to be fully replaced.
Get in touch with your local experts in hot water system installation and replacement
For fast hot water system and air conditioning installation, diagnosis, or repair services, free replacement quotes and great advice please call us Hogan Hot Water on 0488 029 618 or send us an email at enquiries@hoganhotwaterandair.com.au.
We service, repair, install and replace residential hot water systems and air conditioners throughout Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, the Hunter Valley and Central Coast.