Why is water taking too long to heat?

There are many different reasons why your water might be taking too long to heat, but not to worry, there are some things you can do to fix your hot water issues; before you can address the issue, you need to know.

DID YOU KNOW: Stillorgan Gas, Plumbing and Electrical is the biggest plumbing company in Dublin.

Reasons why your water is taking too long to heat

 

No hot water

 

Water currently in pipes: 

The presence of water in the pipes is one of the most basic reasons why many homeowners are forced to wait for hot water to come out of the faucet.

 

Distance: 

The further your hot water heater is from the tap or shower where you want hot water to flow, the longer it will take. If your water heater is in the basement, for example, it may take a long time for hot water to reach the sink in your second-floor bathroom. If hot water must traverse hundreds of yards of curving pipes before reaching your fixture, cold water will flow in the meantime. This can be inconvenient, and it results in wasted water. 

 

A low volume restrictor: 

A flow restrictor or volume restrictor can also cause a hot water delay. Many fittings, such as your showerhead, are built with a modest flow rate in mind. A volume restrictor is put in some. These devices are designed to reduce the amount of water that passes through your faucet. While these are excellent for saving water and money, they may create a delay in your water delivery. When water is delivered at a slower rate, you may have to wait longer for hot water. If you have another hot water issue, such as a considerable distance from your home's water heater, the delay will be more evident.

 

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A failing water heater: 

Water Heater

 

A malfunctioning water heater could be to blame if your water used to heat rapidly, but suddenly it takes longer for hot water to reach your fixtures or you run out of hot water too quickly. The majority of water heaters are designed to last between eight and twelve years. If your water heater is at the tail end of its useful life, it may have trouble performing its functions or may fail completely. If your water heater appears to be less efficient than it once was, you should have one of our skilled plumbers inspect it and evaluate the problem. They may be able to resolve a maintenance issue, or they may inform you that it is time to upgrade your water heater. 

 

Sediment build-up: 

Sediment builds up in your water heater when dissolved minerals like calcium and magnesium collect at the bottom of the tank, especially in hard water homes, where the electric heating element or gas burner is located. Over time, silt builds up in the tank, leaving little room for water. Stillorgan Gas, Plumbing & Electrical can flush and clear out the sediment in your water heater to make it run more efficiently and effectively. 

 

An undersized water heater: 

Perhaps you installed a water heater when your house had only two occupants a few years ago.

 

Outside Temperature: 

Regardless your water heater is in good operating order, it may struggle to maintain a consistent supply of hot water when the weather turns chilly. The water that enters your home beneath will be cold if the outside air is cold. This means your water heater will have to work harder to reach the desired temperature, which is usually between 18 ° C and 60 ° C. When hot water travels from your tank to a fixture in your house, it might be cooled by cold pipes in the walls. If your water has to travel a long distance from the tank, it is likely to chill. 

 

Size and thickness of pipes: 

Finally, your home's water pipes may be contributing to the lack of hot water. The diameter of the pipes may affect the time it takes for hot water to emerge from a faucet. Larger-diameter pipes store more water; therefore, it takes longer for hot water to travel from point A to point B. The quality of your hot water delivery is also affected by the thickness of the pipe's wall. When it comes to metal pipes, the thicker the material, the more heat the pipe walls can absorb from the water as it passes through. You may notice that your water cools on its approach to your fixture if you have iron or steel coated pipes, which are thicker than copper pipes. 

 

Solutions to Prevent Running Out of Hot Water:

 

Use Less Water 

- Run your dishwasher only when full to have fewer washers

- Do larger, less frequent loads of laundry

- Install a low-flow aerator 

 

Take Shorter Showers 

- The Average Shower is 8 minutes long and uses approximately 9 litres of water

- Cutting down to 5 minutes could save 198 litres a week

 

Schedule Your Family's Showers

- Create a set shower schedule

- Stagger shower times to conserve hot water

- Use a shower timer 

 

Use Eco Mode on Appliances 


- Make it a regular practice to use eco mode on all appliances that have them

- Run your appliances at separate times

 

Wash clothes in cold water

- Unless your garments specify not to wash in cold water on their care tags, consider switching to cold water washes for most of your laundry 

 

Upgrade to More Efficient Unit 


- Hot water heaters eventually become less efficient over time

- Check the sticker on your water heater to see if you should replace your tank

 

Contact a plumber

 

Stillorgan Gas & Plumbing


- If the problem persists and none of these solutions help, contact us here at Stillorgan Gas, Plumbing & Electrical, and we can send our professional plumbers to assess the problem and determine the appropriate solution.

 


If you are experiencing issues with your hot water supply or any other plumbing issues, Stillorgan Gas Plumbing & Electrical are here to help. Contact us today to keep your water hot.

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