A cold shower when you don’t want one is not a fun experience, but it doesn’t have to be something you suffer through every day. Instead, you can keep your shower and water heater in great shape by knowing more about how long it normally takes to heat water and the main reasons why a shower might not give you hot water.
If your water heater is working correctly and you haven’t used up all the hot water in its tank already, your shower should only take a couple of minutes to reach the temperature you want. Since your water heater tank will store hot water, it doesn’t take long for the hot water to reach your shower.
When you have to wait longer than a couple of minutes for hot water, your water heater’s tank may have run out of it. However, if your tank isn’t out of hot water, you might need a hot water heater repair to fix whatever issue is preventing hot water from reaching your shower.
If your water heater’s tank runs out of hot water, you’ll have to wait for it to heat the water again before you can take a hot shower. Usually, water heaters run out of water due to excess use, such as when someone takes a very long shower or multiple people take showers in a short period. Whatever the cause, it will probably take 30 minutes to 80 minutes for your water heater to completely heat the water in its tank.
If your shower always takes a long time to heat up, the cause could be due to a few different issues. Fortunately, water heater repair services can solve most issues that affect a shower’s temperature. Learn more about the top five reasons showers take a long time to heat up below:
Sometimes, a shower that takes forever to heat up is due to the distance between the shower and the water heater. Basically, when your water heater is far from your shower, the hot water will take longer to run through your pipes and reach your shower head. Wider than normal pipes can also slow down your hot water. A trained plumber can usually solve this issue and ensure you receive hot water faster.
If you don’t regularly maintain your water heater, sediment inside your tank and pipes will build up. Over time, minerals like calcium and magnesium can block your water heater’s heat mechanism and slow the heating process. This issue can usually be fixed by a full tank flush from a trained plumber, as this service is designed to get rid of sediment build-up. Additionally, scheduling regular water heater flushes can stop the issue from coming back.
Normally, a water heater is set to a temperature between 120 and 140 degrees. If someone has lowered your water heater’s thermostat to a temperature below 120, your water heater will struggle to give you hot water. Additionally, temperatures lower than 120 can cause bacteria to grow in your water and affect your health. If your thermostat is set lower than 120, raise it back to that temperature and see if it solves your issue.
Your water heater’s dip tube is responsible for sending cold water to the bottom of your tank, where it can be heated. If your dip tube is broken or malfunctioning, the cold water can be directed to the top of the tank, causing it to mix with the hot water. As a result, you’ll notice a dip in your shower’s maximum temperature. During a water heater repair, a plumber can solve this issue by repairing or replacing the dip tube.
When you have a lot of people taking showers or using hot water for other purposes in your home, you’ll run out of hot water faster. If you constantly have to take cold showers due to too many people showering before you, your tank’s size is the issue. To ensure your water heater can handle the demand, you’ll either need to upgrade to a larger tank or invest in a tankless water heater that delivers hot water instantaneously.
If you’re looking for water heater repair near you in Novato, Vacaville, or the surrounding Northern California area, turn to Peter Levi. Our certified plumbers can inspect and repair your water heater when you’re not receiving hot water. They can also replace your unit with a more efficient water heater or a tankless model when your unit is past the point of repair. Additionally, you can review our coupons to ensure you receive the best deal on any of our water heater repair services.
Learn more about our water heater repair services today. If you have any questions or want to schedule an appointment, please contact us.
NOVATO
24 Digital Dr STE 1
Novato, CA 94949
VACAVILLE
1021 Mason St, STE 11
Vacaville, CA 95688
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Sat. 7:30am - 4pm
Sun. 8am - 4:30pm
