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Not Enough Hot Water – Is It My Water Heater?

Trouble with the water heater may lead to a lack of hot water throughout the house in San Antonio.
By Minerva Studio for Shutterstock

We’ve all been there at one point or another. It’s the end of a long, cold day in San Antonio, Texas; a warm shower is awaiting. Then, upon turning on the hot water, nothing happens. Or, the alternative happens: cold water bursts forth from the showerhead, startling us.

It’s a struggle and an inconvenience that no homeowner wants to go through – particularly in San Antonio, where temperatures can drop to the high 30s during winter! It often seems like there is never enough hot water in the house. Well, depending on your home’s water heater, that may be true. There actually may not be enough hot water to go around. There are a few issues that typically lead to a lack of hot water from the water heater. We’ll dive into each.

Issues With Your Hot Water Heater

Now, there are generally three reasons as to why you don’t have enough hot water. It can be any one of these situations, so you may require a professional plumber to get to the bottom of the problem.

Wrong Size

One of the most common situations for homeowners who lack enough hot water is an improperly sized hot water heater. It happens, though. You have a few options in this case. The top option is to invest in a better, larger water heater to suit your needs. We suggest speaking with an experienced plumber to choose the right model and appropriate size.

If you don’t have the funds to invest in a new water heater at the moment, there are a few things you could try – but know that these are not long-term solutions:

  • Do not run too many hot water appliances at once. Running the dishwasher, washing machine, and a hot shower at the same time can reduce the amount of hot water each appliance gets.
  • Set the water heater to 120ºF to conserve hot water for everyone.
  • Check the flow rate of your faucet or showerhead.

Burner Troubles

Is your gas burner working properly? Any issues with the gas burner will limit the amount of hot water available to the entire household. You can examine this particular problem by looking at the burner’s flame. A natural gas flame is bright blue in color, with the tip being slightly more yellow. If the flame is not this color, then something is likely wrong with the burner. It may be inefficient combustion, which will affect daily operation more than you can imagine.

Call a professional plumber to get a proper assessment on your gas burner, quickly identify the problem and efficiently fix it.

Sediment Buildup

One of the most annoying issues a homeowner can experience with a water heater is sediment buildup. If your home suffers from hard water – a common problem in the San Antonio area, then your hot water heater is accumulating all these minerals and sediment at the bottom of the tank. This sediment typically includes silt, rust, and small particles of minerals found in the water. Over time, these particles gather at the bottom. Then, there is less room available for hot water.

A telltale sign of sediment buildup is odd rumbling noises stemming from the tank during operation. This noise is caused by the sediment interacting with the burner. As the minerals heat and reheat, they expand and rumble inside.

If you suspect trouble with your hot water heater system or are annoyed by the lack of hot water, call the plumbing experts at bluefrog Plumbing + Drain of San Antonio. You can reach us day or night by calling 210-876-1629!

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