What happens in your home if and when you run out of hot water? Do you ignore it, wait a while and, if and when it turns hot again, assume everything’s okay?
Or, at the other extreme, is your first impulse to shout: “Honey, can you PLEASE call the plumber – NOW?!”
Both responses are quite common. What’s far less common is doing a little troubleshooting of your own. Most people choose otherwise, feeling they don’t really have the time or requisite skill to form a reliable conclusion.
The more ambitious among Western Australian home owners? Well, you do what you’re doing right now. First, you neither panic nor look the other way. Instead, you realize something is wrong, that your water heater doesn’t usually run out of hot water with normal usage. So you head to the internet, and find some information that could save you an unnecessary repair bill or, at the very least, help make you a more informed shopper.
So, without further ado, if your water heater isn’t producing up to par, here’s a step-by-step checklist for you to run through before you call for professional assistance; if, that is, you need to call at all.
Does the water heater have electrical power?
To find out, make sure the isolating switch on your switchboard is in the “on” position. Also look to see if the power cord is plugged in.
Do you need to change your timer setting?
If you have an electric water with a time, perhaps not enough time has been allowed for the water to reheat itself.
Are you using more hot water than you think?
It’s possible that your hot water usage has surpassed the capacity of your storage tank. When children reach a certain age, for example, suddenly there are more showers, more laundry, and more dishes to be washed, and you don’t really feel the effects until you suddenly start running out at the least opportune times. The answer? It’s at least worth trying to conserve hot water before you replace your system for one with greater capacity. And you can do so by taking shorter showers, shaving with the water turned off, install a water saving shower-head, and more.
Check your temperature pressure relief valve
Water heaters, under normal conditions, release small amounts of water via temperature pressure relief valves. More than a bucket full in 24 hours is too much, and that’s something you can easily measure.
Check the pilot flame?
If you have a gas water heater, remove the front access panel and check that a pilot flame is present. If the pilot flame is not burning, try relighting it. If that doesn’t work, the pilot flame assembly itself can be defective, or perhaps your unit isn’t getting the gas it needs.
If your self-help steps don’t achieve the desired end result, well, that’s what we’re here for: Kalamunda Hot Water. We can troubleshoot and repair all makes and models of water heaters: gas, electric, instantaneous, heat pump, and solar. Call us today for prompt and reliable service.
Head Office & Warehouse Address: 13 Godfrey Street, Walliston 6076
Office Hours: 7.30am – 4.30pm Monday – Friday
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