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Why
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out of hot water at your house? Maybe certain family members are over-extending their shower or you’re doing too many warm water loads of laundry. While either of these could be contributing causes, there is likely another reason.' Resource Ways to increase amount of hot water ''The dirty truth If you gradually observe less and less hot water, then most likely suspect is sediment buildup in water heater. Sure sign of sediment includes popping or rumbling sounds coming from the tank when water is heating. Water heater manuals suggest flushing the tank 2 times per year, but few people actually perform recommended maintenance. Even if you flush tank regularly, sediment can still accumulate, and the fix sediment buildup is relatively simple: Resource How to clean sediment out of water heater Other symptoms of sediment can include uneven water temperatures and rising energy bills. Issues such as crossover and bad thermostat can give identical symptoms, so diagnosis is advised. |
| Where
does sediment come from? Heating water causes naturally-occurring minerals like calcium and magnesium form sediment particles that settle on the bottom of the tank. The lower the quality of water, and higher the water temperature, the more minerals are percolated out of the water. The sludge builds up over time, reducing water heater efficiency by displacing water in the tank, clogging drain valve and/or blocking water lines. With gas heaters, the sediment will cover the heat transfer surface, and coat thermostat probe, causing more heat to escape up flue pipe, and possibly cause inacurate thermostat readings. On electric heaters, the lower element becomes covered with sediment, reducing efficiency and eventually burning out the element. |
| DIY steps for removing sediment Resource How to clean sediment out of water heater Shut off the power to an electric tank or put the gas burner of a gas tank on pilot and closing the cold water supply valve Wait several hours to let the stored water cool down Attach a garden hose to the drain valve and place the other end of the hose in the bathtub or a floor drain Open the water heater’s hot water faucet and drain the tank Close the valve, turn the cold water supply back on, fill the tank part-way and drain again Repeat this process of partially filling the tank with cold water and draining it until the water coming out of the tank runs clear Close the drain valve and refill the tank with cold water. Turn the power back on or turn up the gas burner to begin heating water again. \ |
| Size matters Another reason you may not have enough hot water for your house is your water heater is too small for the job. It really all depends on how many people live there. Resource What size water heater should I buy? A 30-gallon unit
serves 1-2 people
A 40-gallon unit serves 2-3 people A 40-50 gallon unit serves 3-4 people A 50-80 gallon unit serves 5 or more people What temperature? Typical bath shower is 104°. Typical water heater thermostat set at 120° Resource Best temperature for water heater Faulty thermostat will interfere with water heating. -On Honeywell type
gas thermostats, resetting thermostat can sometimes
restore function.
Turn gas control valve/thermostat knob to OFF, then wait 10 minutes before relighting. Resource Troubleshoot gas water heater thermostat -On electric heaters, simply replacing thermostat is easiest \Resource How to Replace electric water heater thermostats -Raise temperature setting might fix problem Resource How to adjust water heater temperature Old age Water heaters typically last 8-12 years (if the UL label is still attached to the unit, you can probably see the installation date). If unit is 10+ years old, it might need replacement. A Check for leaks around the base — leaks indicate water heater is wearing out and it’s a matter of time before small leaks turn into major issue. Resources: How to install gas water heater How to install electric water heater Which is best gas water heater Best electric heater |
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