If you’re building is running out of hot water, you might want to start to determine the cause, instead of starting fixing the issue. Nobody ever likes a cold shower: it’s like there isn’t bigger annoyance in the world.
There are many issues that can cause no hot water, but many of them are fixable. Some of the issues might be the same, but it’s important to consider that gas water heaters can operate very differently than electrical water heaters. Let’s take a look at the causes.
These solutions below will help you in case there is a lack of hot water in your building.
1. Wait For The Water Heater To Re-heat
Sometimes, you’ll run out of hot water if you have all the family members and other relatives over and shower each one of them. It happens oftentimes, and this can drain the water heater and leave you with cold water. So, you might want to wait until the water heater reheats before trying to do any maintenance. However, this might take a few hours. If after a couple of hours, you still don’t have hot water, then you might deal with more of a serious problem.
For some people, this happens oftentimes. If you are one of those people who are sick and tired of waiting for hot water to run, then you might need to reconsider your hot water needs. Here’s something you might not know: hot water heaters are made differently, so they can fit both small and large houses.
Thus, you should check if your hot water tank is big enough to meet your house’s needs. So, determine the size of the hot water tank that best meets your needs. A good option might also be to contact boiler rental companies to help reduce your costs and saving you from repairing the hot water tank by yourself.
2. Leaking Tank
Leaks are common in the hot water system. Because of the extreme pressure loss, it can result in a lack of hot water. The size of the pipes doesn’t matter, leaks can occur anyway and cause many problems, such as moisture and mold.
You might not realize that there is any leak because usually, they’re hidden. It’s also a huge cause of condensation which might appear in the walls, floor, ceiling, etc.
If you’ve noticed condensation in your bathroom lately, then this is why. Still, the common causes and signs of leaks include a moldy smell, dripping water, wet floor, etc. The best way to address such problems is to call a plumber to look at the pipes.
3. Checking The Boiler
Another cause of no hot water is because maybe your boiler is leaking water. You might have not checked it in a while, but it’s still wise to avoid repairing it yourself. Because some people choose to repair it themselves, often, they do more damage than actually fixing it. You can do a few checks, but don’t do anything which is out of your reach.
You don’t want to end up with your house flooded. It’s a problem that needs special assessment, so make sure to call a plumber to have it fixed for you. It might also be challenging to identify the true cause of the leak, so leave the problem on experts’ hands.
As mentioned already, if you’re able to, you can do some simple checks. For instance, you can check the pressure and see if it’s too high. How to do it? Watch the needle indicator – if it indicates the red color, it means that it’s over-pressured. Lower it until it becomes green, or whatever the color your boiler might show when it’s at the right temperature.
3. Malfunctioning Thermostat
A major number of thermostat problems are related to the power supply that runs the thermostat:
- Try replacing the batteries
- Check the power switch
- Check the functioning of the transformer
- Mismatched components
- Dust and debris
- Faulty Wiring
- Inaccurate temperature readings
- Heat anticipator problems
A broken thermostat isn’t something that someone will want to experience, especially if it’s freezing cold outside. If the furnace is working properly, then the thermostat might be to blame.
This is not necessarily a reason for you to get desperate – usually, thermostats are cheaper to be fixed than the issues with the boiler.
Actually, it will be best if you would try to first fix the thermostat issues, which are simple to repair, and after that, you can take a look at the bigger furnace components.
Oftentimes, dust accumulation, extreme temperature changes, defective or aging electrics, are the most common issues that can cause your thermostat to breakdown.
These issues can stop the thermostat to communicate with the furnace and control the temperature in your home. Also, it might be a simple power problem.
An increasing number of thermostat-related issues come from the power supply that runs the thermostat. Thus, you should do some checks, including:
- Replacing the batteries
- Check the power switch
- Look for a tripped circuit breaker or blown fuse
- Faulty wiring
- Mismatched components
- Heat anticipator issues
- Dust and debris
- Imprecise temperature readings
Turning on your sink or shower and realizing that there’s no hot water can be very unpleasant. But before letting your mind go to the worst scenarios, be calm. As mentioned before, many issues can cause a lack of hot water. It’s the reason why you should be prepared and contact a plumber as soon as you notice something irregular at your boiler, thermostat, etc.
Keep in mind that too much hot water can also be a problem. So, you might want to check your thermostat and see if it’s set too high. To make sure you check it safely, turn off the power to the heater in the panel, remove the plastic safeguard, but don’t touch any electrical terminals.
Test the wires and make sure that they’re turned off, and set the temperature. Hopefully, this article helped you understand what to do if there is a lack of water in your building. If nothing seems to work out, just call a plumber to have it fixed for you.
