Not Enough Hot Water? Here’s a Simple Troubleshooting Guide

A common water heater problem is that the gas or electric water heater doesn’t produce enough hot water (or it doesn’t produce at all especially during those crucial times you badly need it). It’s stressful and often it happens during early mornings or late evenings when it’s very inconvenient to call someone for help.

Thankfully, you can do the simple inspections and troubleshooting on your own without relying on someone else. With this simple guide you can quickly figure out the problem and perhaps solve it on your own. And if you’ve followed every instruction and still the problem persists, you can then call licensed specialists to do the job for you.

Let’s start with what you can do first:

Check the electricity and power supply. Perhaps the water heater is not plugged in (a repair, inspection or maintenance was done and the plug was not put back in). Or maybe the fuse marked “water heater” or “hot water” is turned off.

In the case of gas water heaters, check if the pilot light is turned on. If it’s turned off, the gas burner will not ignite. The common reason for a gas burner that doesn’t ignite is because a malfunctioning thermocouple is present. If your thermocouple is faulty, you should assuredly ask a professional for assistance.

After you check the power supply or the gas, it’s time then to check the water in the tank and your household usage. Stick a dip tube into the bottom of the tank to test the warm water level. If the hot water is not enough on your end, one possible reason is that too much hot water is being used.

In other words, the water heater doesn’t have enough time to heat enough water. There might be outlets (especially the showers and washing machine) that are using more hot water than you realise.

Another common problem is that there’s a leak somewhere which is why enough hot water doesn’t reach the shower. If this has happened in your situation, you may have run out of hot water. Be careful though because condensation might be mistaken for the leak.

In high-efficiency gas water heaters, a wet patch on the surrounding surface is common (it’s not a leak). But for confirmation and peace of mind, it might help to ask for licensed specialists to inspect your water heater.

There might be times when hot water usage is simultaneous in different outlets or there’s low pressure in the water supply. If this is the case, it might be a good idea to better plan your household water usage (only one active shower at a time). There may be sediment buildup present in your hot water heater and hot water pipes. Sediment build up can produce minimal amounts of hot water and lukewarm water too.

Should you replace your water heater tank?

There are times when the water heater needs replacement especially if it’s old or it doesn’t just have enough capacity for your household requirements. Perhaps it’s time to upgrade to a higher capacity and bigger tank so that everyone will get enough hot water anytime of the day.

But first, make sure you’re getting the most out of your current unit. You should first check the power supply, the pilot light (in gas water heaters), the heating element, the relief valve and the water supply. In most cases your problem can be identified right on the spot. Your problem, with the right keen eye, can be diagnosed without technical assistance.

But for those issues that require technical assistance (there’s a leak, unusual smell, weird noises), it’s important to call a hot water specialist right away. Calling a specialist ensures the perfect function of your hot water. Perfectly functioning hot water is important in guaranteeing your safety.

Any leaks might result in costly damage. This aught to be avoided at all costs. Leaks can also prime certain areas for the growth of mould.

The unusual smells might be caused by chemicals and microbes (which can be inhaled or come into contact with your skin). The weird noises might be caused by mechanical failures and some parts and debris might get propelled.

You can contact us here today at NSW Hot Water if you’re worried about any of those issues. We have a team of heated water specialists (licensed gas fitters, plumbers and electricians) who can pinpoint the exact problem and fix it right away. If there’s not enough hot water, we can do a quick inspection and troubleshooting.

Make an investment in quality, explore the full range of hot water systems from NSW Hot Water today. Contact us on (02) 9722 4500 with any questions or to place an order. We will happily take your 24 hours per day because we understand that hot water is a necessity at all times.