Hot water systems are important for our everyday lives, from showering, washing clothes and clearing dishes to doing other menial tasks. These systems circulate hot water through various pipes to coil units where it’s then deposited through home appliances.
We’re all guilty of taking hot water for granted, and we only realise this when it’s too late. There’s nothing worse than waking up and starting your day with a low-pressured, cold shower.
There are many reasons as to why your hot water system could be failing. Before you assume the worst, consider these common problems and follow our instructions on how to solve them.
5 Reasons Why You Have No Hot Water And How To Solve Them
1. Electric Water Heater Malfunction
An electrical hot water system, clearly, relies on electricity and energy efficiency to function properly. If your electrical system is failing to produce hot water, turn the appliance off and reset the circuit breaker.
It doesn’t mean that your breaker has tripped if it’s in the opposite direction to the others. Rather, it may be out of line. If this was the source of the problem, your hot water will come on again after approximately an hour.
Does your circuit breaker trip often? This is a bad sign and should be dealt with by a professional.
2. Gas Leak
If you have a gas hot water system, you could be experiencing a gas leak. This will usually emit a smell that tends to resemble rotten eggs or sulphur.
Gas leaks are incredibly dangerous, so you should contact our emergency plumbers immediately – rest assured we hold a full Gas Safe registration. In the meantime, you can switch off the gas valve by giving it a downward push.
3. Leaking Tank
Of course, to perform its job, a hot water system requires water in the tank. If your utility bills are a lot higher than usual or your water pressure has significantly dropped over the past few weeks, then it’s likely that your tank is leaking.
Be sure to check the connections between your hot water system and its pipes. If they are secure, check your tank compartment. If water has managed to infiltrate this space, you will need to replace it.
4. Failing gas valve
If the supply line indicates that there are no leaks in your gas hot water system, check your gas valve. Your pilot light should be on. If it isn’t, this will lead to total failure and prevent hot water from entering your home.
Make sure your gas is on, the inlet valve is open, and switch it to pilot mode. Your pilot light must stay lit, so follow your instruction manual on how to light it. If you’re struggling to light it, it could be that you have an insufficient gas supply and you should check for a leak once again.
If you’re sure there is no leak and your pilot light still fails to come up, your thermocouple may be faulty. In this case, or if your pilot light features glow plugs or spark ignitors, it’s time to call our professionals.
5. Tank size
Has your household recently grown in size? As the demand for hot water rises, your hot water system may fail to meet your demands.
In this instance, you will need to upgrade your water tank to a larger one.
EPSSB can install quality hot water systems for customers in Bathurst. If you’re having problems with your hot water, contact us on 02 6332 4992.
