When your water heater starts to break down, it’s not always a big crack and a sudden leak. Your water heater might lose power over time, take too long to heat water, or only give you warm water, no matter how long you wait. At Copperhead Plumbing, we want to help our clients get the most from their water heaters. Use this guide to recognize and fix common water heater problems, and call in one of our licensed plumbers for a professional fix.
Common Reasons Your Water Heater Is Taking Too Long to Heat
One of the most common problems with water heaters is that they stop delivering piping hot water to your shower, sinks, and appliances. Here are some reasons why this problem develops:
- Sediment Buildup: If you have hard water in your local water supply, those minerals and salts build up in your water heater tank (and they can also build up in your pipes and plumbing fixtures). As they build up on the bottom of your tank, they make your heater less efficient.
- Thermostat Issues: Your thermostat might be malfunctioning, which means the temperature gauge and the actual temperature don’t align anymore. Also, if you recently inspected your unit, you might have accidentally adjusted the thermostat and set it too low.
- Heating Element Problems: Over time, your unit’s heating element can wear out.
Another common reason isn’t a breakdown in your water heater; your heater might just be too small for the amount of hot water your home needs, meaning the tank never has a chance to refill and heat up.
How to Fix Slow Water Heating
If your water heater works but is very slow, there are a few steps you can take to speed up how long for the water heater to heat up. Consider these solutions:
Flushing the Tank
Your plumber can remove mineral buildup by draining the tank using an outlet at the bottom of the tank. This will flush out most or all of the rattling bits of loose sediment.
Adjusting the Thermostat
Reset your thermostat to an ideal temperature of around 120° F, which is hot enough to kill many microorganisms but not so hot that it can cause serious burns. Your plumber can also assess any electrical or mechanical problems with the thermostat setup.
Replacing the Heating Element
If the heating element is worn out, it’s time to replace it. Plumbers can replace the element without replacing the whole tank, especially if your unit is relatively new.
Upgrading Your Water Heater
If your water heater is simply too small for the number of people in your home or how much of water you need, consider upgrading to a larger size or a more efficient tank that can guarantee you have hot water at all times.
Preventative Maintenance Tips
If your water heater is already lagging, it’s time for repairs or replacement. But after that, preventive maintenance can help ensure you have convenient access to hot water with fewer plumbing emergencies.
- Regular Flushing: Schedule a routine water heater flush once or twice a year to remove sediment buildup.
- Annual Inspection: Having an annual inspection can also extend the lifespan of your unit and catch potential expensive problems early.
When to Call a Professional
Water heaters can be a challenge to troubleshoot or manage DIY maintenance. We recommend calling in a plumber if you’re worried about getting hurt during flushing cycles or if your visual inspection of the unit doesn’t immediately reveal the problem. A licensed plumber can inspect your unit, zero in on the underlying problem, and recommend a long-term solution.
Schedule an Appointment With Copperhead Plumbing for Fast Hot Water
Copperhead Plumbing serves the Denver metro area with fast and reliable plumbing services. Call us today if you’d like to schedule a water heater inspection or if you need quick water heater repairs.
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