If you’ve ever been taking a shower and the water goes from warm to cool, there may be several reasons. You are standing there in the cold with your hair full of shampoo and your body is covered with sudsy soap — and worse yet, you’re thinking that your (not so old) water heater may be needing costly replacement. But don’t worry, your water heater may or may not necessarily be showing signs of failing.
Check the Thermostat
One of the first things to check on your water heater is the easiest: simply look at the temperature settings. The thermostat might have inadvertently been changed to a lower temperature, and it is an easy fix to bring it back to the higher temperature you desire. When doing so, please be sure to never set it, so the water gets so hot that it is scalding. If this doesn’t address the problem, the thermostat may be faulty and need replacement. Call Beastbay Plumbing in Vallejo for a quick solution.
Teenagers
If the thermostat is set and working correctly, there may be another simple reason why your hot water is turning cold. Are too many other appliances running at the same time? For example, a dishwasher, a washing machine, and even another person showering in another bathroom will pull the majority of hot water that is needed for your shower. This is another easy one to fix. Simply set a schedule for your family to run those other appliances that don’t interfere with your morning shower. Many times, younger people (especially those related to you!) are totally unaware that running multiple appliances uses up your limited amount of hot water. You won’t need to call Beastbay Plumbing to address any issues with your teenagers; that just isn’t our specialty!
Sediment Buildup
Another common issue is a buildup of sediment inside the water heater. This occurs naturally from loose minerals like rust and sand that are part of our water supply. The more sediment that accumulates, the less room there is for water in the tank. The sediment also unhelpfully insulates the water inside the water tank from the heating source, which is located at the bottom of the tank. Beastbay Plumbing can help quickly by draining your water heater and flushing the sediment out. You’ll be back to hot showers soon.
Broken Dip Tube
Something you may not have heard of or experienced is a broken “dip tube.” Its job is to move the cold water toward the bottom of the water heater, so it can be heated. The dip tube is a long plastic tube that may need to be replaced from time to time, and Beastbay Plumbing can install a new one for you today.
Of course, all appliances have a limited lifespan. Most quality water heaters should last between eight and twelve years.
Beastbay Plumbing does a lot more than water heater installation in Vallejo. We are a full service commercial and residential plumbing company and can perform any types of repairs, including sewer line repairs in Vallejo. Contact us today!
