Why Don’t I Have Enough Hot Water?

Nothing can be worse than coming home from a hard day’s work and jumping in the shower expecting a hot, relaxing shower yet no matter how hot you turn the tap, the water is lukewarm at best. It happens to a lot of people and here are some possible causes to this frustrating matter:

1. Malfunctioning Parts

As is the case with many things, parts of your hot water system can naturally wear out over time or they can malfunction, both can be the cause of not having enough hot water.

A professional Hot water system plumber needs to come in and diagnose your hot water system and find the root of the problem. If it’s the case that parts have worn out or malfunctioned, they can easily be replaced by a near supplier, and your hot water system will be up and running in no time at all. The parts that are usually first to wear out include:

a) Thermostat

The thermostat in a hot water system works to regulate temperature, if this becomes damaged or faulty it can cause temperature regulation problems.

b) Heating Elements

Electric hot water systems have heating elements that sometimes can burn out which causes the hot water system to malfunction. In most electric systems, there are two heating elements and if one of these malfunctions it will result in little to no hot water at all.

c) Relief Valve

The temperature-pressure relief valve regulates the pressure in the hot water system. If this part is faulty, it can interfere with the temperature.

2. Sediment Build Up

Sediment builds up over time in hot water systems, wreaking havoc in the internal system and reducing the amount of hot water it can produce. Hard water is water that has a high mineral content, this type of water can leave mineral particles and debris inside the tank. Over time, these can accumulate into a thick and crusty coating along the interior walls of the tank. This mineral coating can diffuse the transfer of heat from the burner to the water in the tank, thus delivering cooler water.

3. Size Of The Hot Water System

The greater the demand for hot water in your house, the greater the need to heat all water taps. As a rule of thumb a family of four, off-peak will need; a 315-litre electric hot water system, a 170-litre natural gas hot water system, a 200-litre solar hot water system.

4. Distance Of The Tank From The Bathroom

Hot water natural cools off in pipes, especially if it has to travel some distance before it even reaches the shower-head – this can be the case if you live in a large house or apartment block. If you are planning to build a house, keep this in mind when drawing up the plans.