It can be the most frustrating thing, having your hot water system stop working in the middle of use. No one likes the feeling of icy cold water in the shower when you are fully expecting hot water to work as normal. Nor is it acceptable if your hot water tank is leaking, or, on the opposite end, dispensing water that’s too hot for use despite being set at a specific temperature. When it comes to this, it is time to call your local plumber to help diagnose and perform hot water system repairs. But how do you know when to call for help?
When Your Hot Water Isn’t Hot
If you’re getting ice-cold water, it may be your hot water system’s circuit breaker. Open up your fuse box and check to see if the hot water breaker has been tripped and switched off, and wait for a bit to see if it begins to heat up the water as necessary. For gas hot water systems, there may be no gas left or your gas supplier may have switched off their supply in the area without warning.
If the water isn’t ice cold, but isn’t hot either, check the insulation of your pipes - it may be that this is the reason why the water cools down on the way to you. If these don’t fix the issue, your best bet is to call your local plumber for hot water system repairs.
There is also a huge range of other reasons why the water might not be hot. It is always best to have a plumber take a look and correctly diagnose the problem.
When There’s No Water Coming Out From the Tap
If there’s no water, or little water coming out if you switch the tap on for hot water, it may be a supply issue. If it is, try and see if you can find an isolation valve within your system, which would look like a red or yellow handle near the water supply. It may have just been switched off. However, if you cannot find it, it’s best to call up your plumber for their expertise.
When You Find a Leak in Your Hot Water System
If you find that there is water at the base of your water heater, or down the sides of your tank, there may be a leak in your hot water system. If this is the case, shut off the water supply immediately, especially if there is spraying or flooding in the area around your hot water tank.
A good plumber should be able to diagnose where the water heater leaking is coming from. If it is the pressure relief valve, it could be replaced, or it may be sediment build-up which your plumber can fix by cleaning it out. If there is another leak, you may be looking at replacing your entire system.
No matter the job, the best plumbers will be able to correctly diagnose and provide solutions for your plumbing problems, which will not only save you the headache, but also your hard-earned money in the long run!
