What to do When Your Hot Water isn’t Consistent

Image courtesy of @Doug88888/Flickr.

It’s happened to all of us: we wake up one morning to no hot water, take a cold shower and then come home again later to find the water is still cold. So what do you do? A lack of consistent hot water is an annoyance, and can also make doing things like cooking and cleaning hard.

Inconsistent water temperatures, no hot water, leaking and sounds coming from your hot water heater generally mean it needs to be serviced or repaired. However, if you don’t have hot water, there are a few do-it-yourself fixes you can try first.

Check the Water Heater

First, check to make sure your water heater is working correctly. Before you inspect a water heater, make sure the power and water supply valve are both off. If you have an electric heater, it will have a heating element on the top and the bottom. Lightly touch the water heater to tell if those heating units are working. Then, check to make sure the breakers are on. If you have a gas heater, check to make sure the pilot light is on. If it isn’t, that could be the source of your cold water.

Reset the Thermostat

One reason you could have inconsistent water temperatures is that the thermostat on your heater has tripped. Look for the thermostat on your hot water heater and then press the reset button. If you aren’t able to locate it, or don’t know how to reset it, contact a plumber that provides hot water heater repair on Long Island.

Rotate the Temperature Control

Another way you may be able to restore hot water is to turn the temperature control knob clockwise as far as it will go, and then completely counterclockwise. Then, set the temperature at 150 degrees and give the unit some time to heat the water. Wait about half an hour and then test the water in your tap to see if you have hot water again.

Have the Heater Serviced

If these tips don’t work, contact us. We provide hot water heater repair on Long Island and can inspect your heater and make necessary repairs. Things like mineral build up, leaks and broken parts can all lead to inconsistent water temperatures.

It’s also a good idea to have your heater serviced regularly so that it will continue working and so you can avoid problems and costly repairs. Your hot water heater is probably one of the most important plumbing appliances in your home, so taking good care of it is important.