We all know that the absence of hot water is a serious inconvenience. Although it’s without a doubt inconvenient to not have hot water, some people question whether it’s a bona fide emergency. Is it?
Hot Water and Emergency Status
Not having any hot water can sometimes point to a critical emergency in the maintenance category. It can sometimes signify a main supply line that’s broken, after all. A significant main water line clog may be the reason for the absence of hot water. A booster pump or hydro-pneumatic tank mechanical failure may be the reason for it, too.
How to Take Care of a Hot Water Dilemma
If you have reason to believe that your hot water situation is an emergency, you should call a professional plumber for assistance right away. Note, too, that you may be able to take care of the frustrating dilemma all by yourself.
Take a close look at your water heater. Ask yourself if it’s the right size for your home and for all of its requirements. Water heaters typically can accommodate anywhere between 30 and 80 gallons in total. If you have one that can accommodate 30 gallons, it may be suitable for an individual who lives alone. If you have one that can accommodate 80 gallons, on the other hand, it may be suitable for a growing family that has numerous kids.
If you realize that your hot water heater just isn’t big enough, then your inadequate hot water likely isn’t an emergency. It just means that you should invest in a bigger unit that has a larger capacity as soon as possible.
What should you do if the size of your water heater is totally fine? Look at your thermostat. Hot water heaters operate optimally at temperatures that span 122 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. If your water heater is operating below 122 degrees or so, it may be vulnerable to hot water shortages. Worse yet, it may be vulnerable to the emergence of Legionella bacteria. Since this bacteria can cause an intense pneumonia variety, you should do your best to avoid it no matter what. If you realize that your heater isn’t set optimally, you should tweak it. After you do that, you should be able to restore your hot water in roughly half an hour
Consider the current weather situation. Have outdoor temperatures abruptly taken a turn for the worse? If they have, they may have interfered with the running of your electric or gas water heater. Weather changes can sometimes even bring on full water heater breakdowns. These breakdowns typically take place during the night while people are sound asleep. That’s when temperatures plummet. That’s also when people generally cease using hot water for a while.
If you suspect that your hot water shortage is the result of frigid weather, you should put your unit on the highest possible setting. Once 30 minutes have gone by, switch a faucet on in the bathroom or the kitchen. Wait for the water to get warm. If the water turns warm, restore the original unit setting. You may even want to temporarily increase it. You can choose to put it back down after the frigid weather lets up.
Is your water heater powered by gas? If it is, then it may be smart to try pilot light relighting. The pilot light to your gas water heater may not be working correctly due to air coming in through a window. It may not be working correctly due to a vent pipe downdraft as well. The second situation is a possibility in times of storms. If you believe that those scenarios are possible, simple relighting may be able to get your hot water back. Look at the side of the heater. You may view relighting instructions.
Your thermocouple may be broken. Have you completed the pilot light relighting task? If you have and the flame refuses to remain on once you let go of the control knob, you may have a broken thermocouple on your hands. This is the device that switches off the flow of gas any time it detects that the pilot light isn’t operating correctly. Look at the top of the tube. If it’s in the middle of the pilot light flame, it’s working. If it isn’t, replacement or tweaking may be in order. The positive news is that thermocouple replacement is usually pretty cheap.
You may have a water heater that operates on electricity. If that’s the situation, restarting it may be beneficial. Electrical storm power surges sometimes affect currents and lead to malfunctioning. Switch the electric water heater off for several minutes. Turn it back on again after that short time period. If hot water doesn’t get restored after 30 minutes, something else may be wrong.
Circuit breaker resetting can also work like a charm. A breaker that’s tripped may not work well. Switch the breaker off for about 20 seconds or so. Then, put it back on. If it fails to remain on, it may be exhausted. It may be too old as well. If you suspect that your breaker has seen better days, you should promptly hire a professional to replace it for you.
Seek Professional Assistance
If you’re unable to figure out your hot water crisis all by your lonesome, that’s totally okay. It may be time for you to call talented and experienced professionals for analysis purposes, repair, replacement and beyond. Remember, professionals grasp technical and safety matters and because of that can help you get your hot water back with full confidence. They can identify hot water shortages that are genuine pressing emergencies, too.
Make an Appointment With the Emergency Plumbing Squad A.S.A.P.
Do you have an urgent hot water dilemma? Call the courteous and helpful staff at Emergency Plumbing Squad to book an appointment. We can provide you with hot water assistance that’s budget-friendly detailed, safe, efficient and effective. Request a free estimate now.