Running out of hot water while taking shower is the worst experience ever, but not uncommon. And if you’re tired of experiencing this ordeal over and over, then you’re in the right place. ‘Cause, we’ve got answers as to why your water heater is creating cold water.
Dip Tube Malfunctioning
The dip tube has a vital function in a hot water system. It’s responsible for water circulation in the tank. For instance, it moves the water down the tank to be heated before it comes out as hot water. And when it malfunctions, water comes out of the heater as cold instead of hot.
When this tube breaks, you’ll still enjoy hot water for some time as long as you’re the only user. And after several minutes, incoming cold water won’t reach the heating point in the tank. Therefore, it will come out as cold or lukewarm. Speaking of that, a hot water system creating cold and lukewarm water is another sign of Dip tube malfunction.
To fix this issue, contact a professional technician in water heaters. They’ll empty the hot water tank and swap the failed dip tube with a new one.
Sediment Buildup
Over time, sediments can build up in your hot water tank causing problems. Oftentimes, the buildup is due to the use of water rich in minerals like calcium and lime. And when they separate from water, they begin coating the hot water tank bottom. This problem is more common in regions with a supply of hard water.
Due to sediment build-up, the tank capacity will reduce significantly. Although you’ll still receive hot water, it will run out faster. Further, sediment buildup is a major cause of noises from water heaters. From time to time, you’ll hear pops and bangs when the heater is in operation. And these are noises caused by cracking sediments on the wall of the tank and as they fall.
To resolve this issue, contact the technician and book for water heater general maintenance. They’ll flush your tank to remove the sentiments. They’ll then turn off the water heater and empty all the water. Thereafter, they’ll run in cold water to dislodge and flush out any remaining sediments from the tank.
To prevent this problem from recurring, call the technician annually for tank maintenance, especially if your area receives hard water.
Broken Elements
There are two major heating elements in electric water heaters. One is situated at the top and the other at the bottom to improve the efficiency of the heater. The bottom element heats water while the one at the top maintains the water hot as it comes out. Therefore, when the bottom element fails, water will still come out hot but not as desired. As a result, it will cool off faster as it travels through the supply pipes from the heater.
Also, you can tell which element has failed based on the water temperature. If the top element fails, the water will be warm. If the bottom element fails, the water will be cool as it will cool off faster.
To fix the broken elements, contact a technician. First, the technician will establish which element has failed with the help of a multimeter. Thereafter, they’ll replace it with a new one.
Final Take
Want to fix the root cause of the problem and restore the comfort of hot water bathing? Well, call Flamingo Plumbing and Backflow. They’re a one-stop solution for all plumbing issues including a low supply of hot water. Through their official site, you can connect with them and arrange when they’ll come to resolve the issue.