Leaking Water Heater
One of the most alarming hot water problems is a major leak from your water heater tank or pipes. Signs include water pooling around the base of your hot water cylinder, especially if the leak occurs from a crack in the tank. Leaks originating from pipe fittings connected to the heater might produce spraying water instead. Either way, no leak originating from a water heater should be ignored.
The longer a leak flows from the pressure within the tank, the worse and more hazardous it can become. Call a 24-hour emergency plumber promptly if you suspect your water heater itself is leaking water in any way.
Decreased Hot Water Supply
Have you noticed your hot water supply seems to run out much faster recently? Or perhaps showers become cold, and faucets lose hot water after just a few uses? If your system fails to provide enough hot water to meet your household’s typical demand, there are a few common offender issues likely to blame. Sediment build-up inside the tank can reduce capacity over years of use. Mineral scaling on heating elements degrades heating efficiency.
Failed heating elements or a broken thermostat affect ability to heat properly as well. A damaged pressure relief valve may even be leaking hot water. Diagnosing the specific problem requires plumbing know-how to test elements and components. Calling a plumber helps identify and remedy decreased hot water capacity.
No Hot Water at All
The situation everyone dreads – turning on hot water faucets or taking a shower only to get nothing but cold water. A sudden total loss of hot water often stems from a heating element or thermostat failure in electric hot water systems. With gas heaters, the pilot light may have blown out or the main burner ignition is experiencing issues.
Since not having water cripples domestic water usage throughout a home, this usually necessitates an urgent plumber house call unless you’re highly handy fixing appliances yourself. Be prepared to possibly replace parts like heating elements or thermostats if they are indeed the cause.
Dripping Faucets and Leaking Pipes
While not exclusive to hot water systems alone, faucet leaks and dripping pipes require priority repairs when hot water seems to be escaping. Temperature/pressure relief valve leaks, pinhole pipe leaks in hot water lines and under sinks, sputtering joint connections, and hot water tap leaks should all be examined by a plumber if you lack the DIY repair confidence.
Catching and sealing minor hot water leaks protects your household and property from more extensive water damage if they continue unsolved. A plumber has the skills to test and isolate leak points and re-seal them using appropriate fittings and pipe repair methods.
Strange Noises
Clanking, banging, and high-pitched squealing coming from your hot water system falls into the category of strange noises you shouldn’t ignore. While this may signal familiar problems like sediment accumulation or failing heating elements, odd noises can sometimes indicate more serious issues in hot water systems. This includes potential damage causing pressure fluctuations and water hammer effect on pipes or compromised vacuum breaker valves.
Diagnosing the origin of unfamiliar sounds warrants an expert plumber callout to inspect what internal components might be malfunctioning inside your hot water cylinder before it worsens unexpectedly.
Final Words
Trust your instincts if you believe your household’s hot water system is acting up. Catching problems early before they escalate into bigger repair headaches or catastrophic failures remains key. Know when to solicit help from qualified plumbers to troubleshoot and fix common hot water issues. Prioritising hot water system health preserves this essential utility all homeowners rely on daily.
Use our contact us page to reach us and we will be more than happy to discuss your hot water situation. Or give us a call on 0800 497658.
At Hot Water Solutions all we do is hot water!
