Water Heater Wednesday: No Hot Water

As a homeowner, not having any hot water is a huge stressor! If you’ve ever been in the middle of a shower or washing dishes and suddenly only have freezing cold water you know what we’re talking about! You probably panicked, wondering why you didn’t have any hot water and, of course, how much money its going to cost to fix it. There are a couple reasons why your hot water heater may have stopped putting out hot water. Unfortunately, unless you’re a trained, experienced plumber, you generally can’t fix a hot water heater on your own. Its still a good idea to know a little bit about what’s going on, though. Let’s take a look at why you may have no hot water.

Sediment Buildup

Sediment buildup is generally not a problem that presents itself suddenly. Its also one of the most common (and irritating!) reasons why your hot water heater may not be putting out any hot water. Sediment buildup occurs by sediment building up on the bottom of your water heater tank. This usually occurs due to hard water. If enough sediment is allowed to build up on the bottom of your tank, it can keep the heat from the heating element from getting to the water inside the tank to heat it. It will be impossible for the heat from the heating element to penetrate through all the sediment to reach the water inside. Fortunately, flushing the tank is an easy way for a professional plumber to fix this problem!

Broken Dip Tube

The dip tube is a long tube that runs from the water line to the bottom of the water heater tank. Cold water runs from this tube into the tank, where it is then heated by the heating element. If the dip tube is cracked or broken, the cold water in it will leak right into the water in the tank that is already heated. If you have hot water that is interrupted by intermittent bursts of cold water, you may have a broken dip tube! This is another easy fix for a professional plumber.

If you’re struggling with no hot water at your house, don’t hesitate- contact the trusted professionals at Masterflo Plumbing today! We have the skills and experience needed to repair your hot water heater today! To get hot water back into your home call (678) 822-7095 today!