Picture this: You’ve just gotten home after a long work day and are awaiting that highly anticipated shower to unwind. But to your surprise, the hot water isn’t working as it should. You turn the shower on and off hoping that the water will magically adjust itself, but have reached a dead end prompting you to search the internet for solutions and contemplate potentially hazardous DIYs. After a long-winded effort to try and find some answers, you’re now here in search of effective yet easy ways to fix your hot water. If you’re in this position, there’s no need to fret, as our team has looked high and low for causes/ quick and easy fixes to help cure that “no hot water” problem so you don’t have to.

No Hot Water Can Be A Result Of A Gas Valve Failure

If you have a gas water heater and are suffering from no hot water, you may have to check the gas inlet valve and supply tube. If there are no leaks while examining the water heater, try checking the gas valve which should always by standard be secure in the correct position. Sometimes, no hot water can be a result of the gas not being turned on or accidentally turning off. Be sure to double-check these areas to make sure that everything looks in its right place. Once these areas have been examined, try checking if the pilot light of the gas valve is working. If not, try relighting the pilot a few times as it must be kept burning.

If the pilot light of the gas valve isn’t working, this can indicate that the gas supply is restricted because of a potential gas line obstruction.

When it’s time to call a specialist: If none of these procedures work, it may be time to purchase a new water heater and call a plumbing specialist.

There May Be Water Leaking From Your Water Heater Tank

Leaks surely are a big pain to deal with, and if you’re suffering from a water heater that’s leaking, the simple answer to this is that you’ll likely need to replace the unit altogether. When you see water leaking or around your water heater, chances are that the unit may be old and can no longer be filled with water to heat. Much like a kettle, the reason why kettles can heat water efficiently is because they’re fully enclosed, so if your water heater is leaking, chances are that it may not be enclosed properly.

When to call a specialist: Replacing a leaking water heater is the simplest way to fix a no-hot water problem. But before you go ordering the latest water heater on the homeowner market, try calling a pro for their opinion — there may be a faster or easier fix they can provide.

There May Be An Electric Water Heater Malfunction

Electric water heaters are powered by electricity, therefore, most problems that may result from an electric water heater most likely have to do with the electricity itself rather than the actual unit. If you have an electric water heater and have no hot water coming out of your faucets, this may be a quick and easy fix you can do yourself. Looking for loose connections, turning the circuit breaker on and off, and switching power sources from wall outlets to another electric device with its own backup, can help to expedite the issue in no time. More than often, electric water heater malfunctions are caused by circuit breaker trips, which can easily be resolved by resetting fuses that are connected to it and resetting the breaker itself.

When to call a specialist: If you reset your circuit breaker and it still continues to trip, try calling a certified electrician to help as there may be a deeper issue involving your electric water heater.

There May Be A Thermostat Malfunction

In order for a water heater to work efficiently, the thermostat should always be set at 122 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit. If your water heater isn’t producing hot water, chances are that your thermostat might be damaged. Damaged thermostats may seem like a small issue, however, they can lead to problems such as sediment accumulation (the buildup of dust particles, gravel, sand, and clay) which can further impact a water heater’s efficiency to heat up properly. Broken thermostats should always be replaced, but just to be sure, try checking for a tripped high-temperature cutoff switch beforehand. You can easily repair this by flipping and resetting the thermostat.

When to call a specialist: If your thermostat is broken and resetting it doesn’t work, you may have to call a specialist and purchase a new one altogether.

Your Water Heater May Be Too Small

Believe it or not, the size of your water heater may have to do with a no-hot water issue, particularly if it’s too small. Having a small water heater isn’t energy efficient and will result in hot water running out more quickly. If you have a small water heater, you may have to replace it with a larger one. 

When to call a specialist: If you’re out of hot water and your water heater is too small, it’s time to call a specialist to have it properly removed and upgraded to a bigger size.

Your Water Heater Might Be Old

As our homes age, so do our water heaters, further making maintenance a little more complicated as they continue to age with time. All in all, water heaters tend to have a lifespan of only 10 years and can often break down or stop working the older they get. If your water heater is suffering from old age, it’s time to put it to rest with a new one. The sooner a water heater is replaced in these instances the better.

When to call a specialist: If you’re water heater is within the 10-year mark, calling a specialist to help replace it is key to preventing cold showers in the future.

The Weather May Have Something To Do With No Hot Water

Influenced by outside temperature, the amount of time it takes for a water heater to heat efficiently can be linked to the outside temperature. During colder seasons like the winter and the end of fall, the energy efficiency of water heaters can plummet, resulting in longer wait times for the water to be fully heated. If you live in a colder area, chances are that you may have to wait a little while before the water heats up. You can also insulate the top and sides of the tank to keep water heated with towels and blankets made with cushioning materials. Materials made with aluminum can further reflect heat and keep warm water insulted in the tank.

When to call a specialist: In these instances, try using heat insulted materials to prevent warm heat from escaping your tank. If this doesn’t work, you may have to call a specialist.

Everyone’s been through it. Having no hot water left to help you unwind, refresh and recharge can surely be aggravating.  However, with the causes and solutions listed above, fixing that pesky hot water issue can be made simple without the stress and without the hassle.