Why Isn’t Your Water Getting Hot Enough?

When you turn on the faucet, you expect hot water to come out. However, there is a difference between “this water isn’t hot enough” and “this water isn’t hot at all!” If you are not getting to a temperature above lukewarm from your hot tap, then you have a water heater problem.

What Causes a Lack of Hot Water?

If your water isn’t getting hot enough, there may be a few different causes, including:

• Your Water Heater is Set Too Low – The adjustment knob could have been bumped or accidentally turned down. When this happens, typically your water will still be hot, but it won’t be as hot as you are used to. It should be the first thing to be checked in these cases.
• Dip Tube – If you have an older water heater, you could have a broken dip tube. When working as designed, this introduces incoming cold water at the bottom of the tank so it can be heated. When broken, the cold incoming water ends up at the top and gets mixed in, creating lukewarm water instead of hot water.
• Heating Element – If you have an electric water heater, they come with two heating elements to produce hot water. If one of those elements goes out, this means your water will only get half as hot.
• Under-Sized Water Heater – If your water heater is a newer installation, it may not have been the correct size for your home. A water heater that is too small may not be able to keep up with your home’s demand. If you notice a lack of hot water while multiple appliances are going or directly afterwards, this is likely your issue.

No matter what the cause of your lack of hot water is, water heater repair is a job best left to the professional hand, especially when it comes to gas water heaters. If you are having a problem with your water heater, contact us today to see how The Plumber Guy can help.