Why Does Your Hot Water Take So Long?
For most homes, hot water takes a couple of seconds to at least start warming up. However, if you run your tap for minutes before you start getting that warm water flow, it is not normal. It can certainly be an indicator of a problem with your water heater or another plumbing problem, but what is happening that makes it take so long?
Hot water taking abnormally long to reach your faucet can have a few causes, including:
- Distance – If this issue only happens on a few water fixtures, it is likely because they are so far from where the water heater is installed that it takes a physically long time to get there. However, you do have options to rectify this like hot water recirculation.
- Low-Volume Restrictor – If you have low-volume restrictors installed to conserve water, it will end up taking your warm water longer to reach you because the water is now restricted.
- Sediment Build Up – Over time and use, sediment – minerals like calcium and magnesium – can build up at the bottom of your water heater. This can displace the water, making it so you have less hot water and it takes longer to refill each time. The water heater should be drained and flushed out once per year to prevent this.
- Aging Water Heater – In most cases, when this water takes longer to reach the interior of your home, it is because the hot water heater is on its last legs. If your water heater is over 10 years old, it is at the end of its lifespan and you should anticipate for it to fail suddenly in the near future.
If you are having hot water problems, then you are having water heater problems. To investigate these issues and make sure they get fixed correctly, contact us today to see what Ory’s Plumbing Service can do to help.