Why Is My Shower Not Getting Hot Water
When your shower fails to produce hot water, this can be very irritating. There are a number of reasons why you don’t have any hot water. The best place to start is your hot water heater and then work from there. This is where the hot water is generated and distributed throughout your home. From there other possibilities might arise. Below is a short list of some of the reasons why you are not getting hot water in your shower.
Water Heater
Your water has several components. All of them work together in order to produce hot water. If any part is not working, then your entire unit can fail to product hot water. For instance if your element burns out, you will experience brief moments of hot water, but nothing sustainable. Your pilot light could be out which keeps the system from producing hot water all together. There may be faulty wiring or a leak in the hot water line. Any of these can occur singularly or all at once. Remember, your hot water heater is source of all heat, so no matter what else is going on in your plumbing, if the heater doesn’t work, you will not get hot water whatsoever.
Faucets and Fixtures
You may have a damaged component in your shower faucet. The best way to tell is to turn on every hot water faucet in your home including your shower faucet. If they are all producing a steady stream of hot water, then you know there’s a problem somewhere else. If you discover, however, that all the faucets are working except your shower faucet, then there is a problem with a part in that particular faucet. It could be in the line, or a damaged handle. The best way to tell is to have it inspected to make sure that all the pieces are in condition and working properly.
Shower Valve
The function of the shower valve is to combine both hot and cold water before exiting the spout. By adjusting the handles and the valve you get a temperature that you are comfortable with. If you’re valve is not able to set the temperature then it could be damaged or worn out. Specifically, it could be the O-rings or washer in the valve. Fixing this problem is relatively simple and can be done in a matter of minutes. Rather than trying to repair the damaged valve, it’s best to simply replace it, as faucet valves are inexpensive.
Cross Connect Pipes
Another device in your plumbing system that is used to combine hot and cold water to a given temperature is a cross connect pipe. Although this type of plumbing can be found in older homes, it’s still a very effective way of combining both the cold and hot. If a cross connect pipe fails to work correctly, then you will get a one-sided temperature coming out of the faucet. Since cross connect pipes are located in the walls of your home, it’s not a good idea to attempt a DIY repair. A professional can solve the problem in relatively little time with minimal damage to your walls.
Heavy Usage Periods
If you are trying to take a shower during peak period of hot water usage, then there’s a good chance you are going to empty the hot water tank quickly. It is ideal to wait a half an hour between major hot water sessions in order to allow the water heater to fill up. A great option to traditional tank heaters are tankless water heaters which produce instant hot water and never run out. Because they are able to quickly convert cold water into hot water, they do not rely on tanks.
