Common Reasons Why Your Water Heater Isn’t Working
There’s nothing quite like the sinking feeling of going to take a nice hot shower, only to be greeted by a cold, trickling stream of disappointment. Your trusty water heater has decided to pack it in, leaving you high and dry without any of that glorious hot water you took for granted.
Whether it’s that ancient tank model wheezing its last breaths or a newer system pulling a premature Houdini act, a water heater malfunction is the worst kind of buzzkill. You don’t realize how much you rely on that humble appliance until it stops delivering the piping hot goods for your showers, dishwashing, and more.
Before you resign yourself to living like a caveperson, let’s troubleshoot some of the common reasons these temperature-treating workhorses sometimes decide to go on the fritz. From lack of maintenance to thermostat issues, leaks, and more, there are actually quite a few potential culprits behind why your water heater might currently be pulling this cold-water prank on you.
Lack of Maintenance
You know that little thing called “routine maintenance” that appliance manuals always harp on about? Well, when it comes to water heaters, neglecting that TLC is one of the biggest reasons these systems tend to bite the dust prematurely.
Just like any other hardworking household appliance, water heaters need their fair share of checkups and tender loving care to keep on chugging along. Ignore that maintenance for too long, and they’ll eventually get fed up and leave you high and dry in retaliation.
Sediment Buildup
Over time, the constant heating and reheating of water causes dissolved minerals and sediment to gradually build up inside your tank’s bottom. As that cruddy layer gets thicker, it creates an insulating barrier between the water and heat source. Making your water heater work harder to get that H2O up to temp.
If enough scale accumulates, it can eventually cause the tank to overheat and burn out key components like the upper thermostat. Or even lead to cracks and leaks as the sediment literally eats away at the metal from the inside out. Not a pretty picture!
Lack of Flushing
Speaking of sediment, one of the main maintenance tasks for tank water heaters is giving it a good flushing every year or so. This involves draining several gallons from the tank to clear out any built-up gunk settling at the bottom.
Skipping this crucial chore means all those mineral deposits just keep on accumulating year after year. Until your water heater’s innards are basically clogged up with a thick, grimy sludge that’s impossible to heat efficiently. Basically like pouring hot water down the drain, except you’re paying for the privilege!
Neglecting the Anode Rod
For tank models, that long sediment-catching rod sticking up through the tank serves an important purpose – it’s called the sacrificial anode rod. Its job is to attract corrosive particles in the water that would otherwise eat away at the metal tank itself over time.
Except like any other component, that anode rod will eventually get used up and need replacement every 3-5 years. If you neglect swapping it out, your tank’s interior is left vulnerable to accelerated rusting and deterioration from the inside out. An expensive repair bill or premature tank replacement is the likely outcome.
The moral of the story? Treat your water heater to some basic preventative care and it’ll return the favor by cranking out hot showers and dishwashing cycles for years to come. Neglect that maintenance for too long though, and you’re essentially giving it a slow death sentence.
Don’t be that person leaving a trail of cold-water misery in their wake! A little routine TLC goes a long way in keeping your water heater happy and your showers steamy. Trust us, your future self will thank you for not having to go full caveperson.
Thermostat Issues
Okay, so you’ve been the model student when it comes to routine water heater maintenance. Flushing that tank regularly, swapping out anode rods, the whole nine yards of responsible appliance ownership. But your trusty temperature tank has still decided to go all cold and uncooperative on you? Chances are good the thermostat could be the real troublemaker here.
That humble control module plays a bigger role than you might think in your water heater’s ability to heat water. It’s the brain commanding that heating cycle to kick into gear once the tank’s temperatures drop below your set point. Any issues with the thermostat and your whole hot water supply gets thrown out of whack.
Faulty Thermostat
Over time, those thermostats can simply burn out or develop electrical gremlins that cause them to misfire or fail to properly relay heating commands. Corrosion building up on the components or loose wiring connections can also make the thermostat go haywire and feed your water heater bad information.
If the thermostat outright stops working, your tank’s heating elements will never receive the signal to switch on and do their hot water making duties. You’ll be left with a cold, colder, coldest tank of disappointing non-hot water.
Incorrect Temperature Setting
In some cases, the issue could simply be that your water heater’s temperature setting got accidentally bumped too low or to the “pilot” setting. An easy enough fix, but one that can definitely leave you scratching your head when you’re not getting that steamy shower you’re expecting.
For gas water heaters, the temperature dial should usually be set somewhere between 115°F and 125°F to ensure enough hot water while preventing scalding. Electric tanks tend to have higher temperature ranges up to 140°F or so. Refer to your model’s manual for the ideal setting.
Wiring Problems
Your water heater’s thermostat doesn’t operate in a vacuum. It relies on a series of wires to communicate with and control those heating elements. If the electrical wiring running between them gets damaged, frayed or disconnected, it can absolutely throw a wrench into that heating cycle.
Corrosion buildup on the wiring terminals leading to the thermostat can also create a poor connection. Preventing it from accurately sensing temperatures or relaying commands to fire up those hot water making elements when needed. An electrical issue like this requires some sleuthing to track down the root cause.
So while it might seem like a minor component, a faulty or improperly set thermostat can absolutely sabotage your water heater’s ability to do its job. Keeping an eye on that temperature setting and replacing the thermostat every 5-10 years can go a long way in ensuring hot showers for years to come.
Unless you want to be that person desperately trying to thaw out frozen pipes with a blowtorch, don’t let thermostat issues turn your water heater into an oversized ice cube maker! A little preventative maintenance is always cheaper than the alternative of a premature replacement.
Leaks
There are few things quite as maddening as going to grab a fresh towel from the water heater closet, only to find you’re standing in the middle of a Cold War-era nuclear reactor coolant leak situation. Okay, maybe a slight exaggeration, but any sort of active drip, dribble, or deluge around your water heater is definitely cause for concern.
While a leaky tank might seem like an obvious sign your water heater is about to buy the farm, there are actually a few different potential sources for all that unwanted moisture. From the tank itself to inlet/outlet pipes and pressure relief valves, let’s investigate some of the common leak culprits.
Tank Leaks
For tank-style water heaters, any crack, rust hole, or perforation in that big metal cylinder is going to cause a pretty dramatic leak situation. As water is constantly heated and cooled in that enclosed tank, it puts a ton of pressure and thermal stress on the metal walls over time.
If the tank’s inner lining gets corroded away or the steel develops a fracture, you’re going to start seeing water seeping out. And once a tank springs a leak, it’s pretty much game over – the unit will need to be replaced. No slapping a Band-Aid on that bullet hole!
Inlet/Outlet Pipe Leaks
In addition to the main tank, leaks can also crop up from any of the pipes connected to your water heater’s inlets and outlets. Whether it’s the hot water outlet line, cold water inlet, or even the condensate drain line, any loose connections or corroded pipe fittings can start allowing water to escape.
While not quite as catastrophic as a busted tank leak, any sort of persistent dripping or puddles around those pipe connections is still bad news. It’s a sign that seal has been compromised and needs to be repaired or replaced to prevent further water damage.
Pressure Relief Valve Leaks
You know that funny little lever sticking out of the side of your water heater tank? That’s the temperature and pressure relief valve – a crucial safety component designed to automatically release excess pressure or heat buildup from inside the tank.
Except if that T&P valve gets stuck open or starts leaking around the fittings, you could end up with a constant stream or sporadic hot water spraying out. Not exactly ideal unless you’re trying to recreate a scene from a disaster movie!
While sometimes the valve itself just needs to be replaced, a chronically leaking T&P valve could also indicate an underlying issue like excessive tank pressure. So don’t just slap on a new valve and call it a day without investigating the root cause.
The bottom line? Any sort of active dripping, puddling, or moisture around your water heater is bad news and needs to be addressed swiftly. Whether it’s the tank itself springing a leak or those inlet/outlet pipes and valves getting a bit too generous with their water distribution, letting things go will only lead to an even bigger catastrophic failure down the road. Not to mention all the mold, mildew, and water damage you could be inviting into your home!
Pilot Light or Ignition Problems
There’s nothing more soul-crushing than going to fire up that nice hot shower, only to get blasted with a freezing Arctic stream of liquid disappointment. Unless your water heater has been making some pretty overt leaking or rumbling sounds, chances are good the issue could be stemming from its ignition system.
For gas-fired tank models, we’re talking about that little pilot light that has to stay lit to actually ignite the burners and heat up your water supply. With electric models, any electrical issues preventing those heating elements from kicking on can leave you just as hot water deprived. Let’s investigate some of the common culprits behind these ignition woes.
Pilot Light Won’t Stay Lit (Gas Water Heaters)
If you own a gas water heater, the very first thing you’ll want to check is whether that pilot light is still burning. An extinguished pilot is the most obvious reason why your tank’s burners won’t be able to properly fire up to heat incoming cold water.
Drafts, spider webs, or clogs in the gas line can all cause the pilot to repeatedly go out and leave you hot water-less. The thermocouple safety sensor that monitors the pilot could also be faulty, causing your water heater to think the flame is out even when it’s not.
Ignition Failure (Electric Water Heaters)
For electric water heaters, you’re dealing with heating elements rather than gas burners. But much like a pilot light, any electrical issues that prevent those elements from actually turning on and generating heat can leave your tank about as effective as a lukewarm ice cube tray.
From tripped circuit breakers cutting off power to the elements, to bad connections or a faulty control unit, there are a number of potential ignition gremlins that could be to blame. Heck, the heating elements themselves could just be burned out and in need of replacement.
Thermocouple Issues (Gas Water Heaters)
We briefly mentioned thermocouples already, but this little sensor attached to gas water heaters plays a crucial safety role in monitoring that pilot light. If the thermocouple detects that the pilot has gone out, it automatically shuts off the gas supply as a precaution against hazardous gas leaks or fires.
A faulty thermocouple that keeps shutting off the gas despite the pilot being lit can quickly leave you without any hot water. Or if that thermocouple gets coated in gunk or accidentally gets bent or damaged, it may not be able to accurately sense whether the pilot is burning properly.
Look, we’re not going to sugarcoat it – ignition system problems can be a real headache to troubleshoot and repair. Between gas lines, electrical components, safety sensors, and more, there are a lot of potential points of failure when it comes to actually getting your water heater fired up.
While you can try your hand at some basic DIY diagnostics like relighting a pilot light, anything much more complex is probably going to require calling in a professional. The last thing you want is to inadvertently create a gas leak, fire risk, or other dangerous situation while poking around those ignition components.
Unless you’re truly confident in your gas line and electrical wiring skills, that cold shower might just have to be endured until the experts can come in and get your water heater’s ignition system operating safely again. Hey, maybe it will help you appreciate those steamy hot showers even more once they’re restored!
Insufficient Hot Water Supply
Okay, so your water heater is still technically working and providing some level of hot water. The problem is that it’s just not quite enough to keep up with your household’s demands. You’ll get a decent shower or two out of it, but then the tank’s tapped out and you’re back to ice cold disappointment until it can fully reheat.
An inadequate supply of hot water is definitely a frustrating issue, but also one of the more common complaints with aging or undersized water heaters. If your unit’s struggling to keep that steady stream of steamy goodness flowing, one of these reasons could be the underlying culprit.
Undersized Water Heater
This is probably the most straightforward explanation for never having enough hot water – your water heater just isn’t big enough to handle your household’s hot water needs. Maybe it was properly sized when it was installed ages ago, but your family has since expanded and the demands outgrew the tank’s capacity.
Or perhaps the previous owners just went too small trying to save some upfront costs. Whatever the reason, if your water heater’s tank capacity is puny compared to the amount of hot water your household realistically requires, you’re always going to be leaving someone out in the cold (literally).
Excessive Hot Water Demand
On the flip side, maybe your water heater was appropriately sized at one point, but your family’s hot water usage habits have changed over time. More frequent and/or longer showers, dishwasher cycles, loads of laundry – all of these can start overwhelming a tank’s ability to keep up.
Larger families with more people all trying to squeeze in their hot water needs around the same times are definitely at risk of over-taxing a water heater not sized for that level of demand. If the tank can’t recover and reheat between uses fast enough, you’ll keep running out of that precious hot water.
Crossed Hot and Cold Connections
While less common, another potential reason for hot water shortages could simply be that your water heater’s hot and cold supply lines got accidentally crossed or improperly connected. If the hot water outlet is pulling from the cold inlet instead of the heated tank, well, you’re gonna have a bad time.
This is one of those installation issues that could happen with a new water heater replacement or if any plumbing lines had to be messed with. Just a simple case of human error leading to a very frustrating hot water supply problem until it gets fixed.
Look, we’re not going to judge if your household is filled with super long, hot water-guzzling shower hogs. Although maybe have a little more consideration for your water heater and the rest of the family, yeah? But in all seriousness, an undersized or overworked tank can only put out so much before it starts struggling.
If you find yourself routinely running out of hot water way sooner than you’d like, it might be time to reevaluate your water heating setup. Whether that means an upgrade to a larger tank, implementing some conservation habits, or checking for any crossed connections, resolving that hot water shortage will feel oh-so-satisfying.
Age and Wear
As much as we might want our household appliances to be immortal, everything has an expiration date. Water heaters are no exception to that unfortunate rule. Even with diligent maintenance and care, the relentless daily grind of heating and reheating hundreds of gallons of water eventually takes its toll.
If your water heater was already collecting senior discounts at Denny’s by the time you moved into your home, there’s a solid chance it could just be on its last legs from sheer old age and wear. Typically, tank-style water heaters will start waving the white flag anywhere between 8-12 years of service.
As those units approach that age range, you’ll likely notice the signs of a water heater that’s ready for retirement. More frequent lukewarm showers as the tank struggles to recover. Rumbling or popping noises from excessive sediment buildup. Increasing leaks and moisture around the tank itself as the metal walls break down.
While a few repairs and parts replacements can sometimes extend a water heater’s lifespan by another year or two, there comes a point when the operational issues and risks just aren’t worth putting off an inevitable full system replacement any longer.
Sometimes it’s just plainly easier (and cheaper!) to bite the bullet and upgrade to a shiny new model rather than continuing to try nursing an ancient, failing water heater along. As they say, all good things must come to an end – even your long reign of piping hot showers.
Steamy Showers in Seattle Start With Fox Plumbing
At the end of the day, there’s nothing quite as frustrating as getting hit with a cold shower when you’re expecting a nice relaxing hot one. Whether your water heater has decided to take an early retirement or is just being a moody, lukewarm diva, the team at Fox Plumbing has you covered.
As the premier plumbing experts serving the Seattle area, we’ve been restoring hot water happiness to local households for decades. From quick fixes to full system replacements, our certified technicians can diagnose and resolve virtually any water heater woe you might be experiencing.
Don’t resign yourself to an existence of shivering showers and disappointing dishwashing cycles. Give Fox Plumbing a call at (206) 654-4986 and let us get that hot water flowing like Niagara Falls again! Your future warm and toasty self will thank you.