You have a routine throughout the day, and that routine often depends on having hot water available with the turn of a tap. You don’t think about it much because it’s just expected. That makes it extra disconcerting to discover that the hot water you rely on is running out early. When you’re taking your morning shower and the water goes lukewarm after only a minute … that’s a terrible start to the day!
If you’ve noticed that the volume of hot water from your taps has dropped, you’ll probably need to call our team for water heater repair in Charleston, SC. We’ll quickly get to the bottom of the problem and find the solution that will restore your expected daily hot water supply.
Let’s look at some of the possible reasons your water heater isn’t doing its full job.
Excess Sediment in the Tank
Tank water heaters will collect sediment along the bottom of their tank over the years. The more minerals in the water, the faster the sediment will build up. Enough sediment will create an insulating layer between the heating elements and the water in the tank, making it harder to heat up the water.
Regular tank flushes during maintenance will avoid this problem, and technicians can flush the tank to correct it if it’s currently lowering your hot water supply.
Broken Heating Element
This is for electric water heaters. If one of the two heating elements inside the tank burns out, it will severely limit how much hot water the unit can heat up. You’ll need to have technicians replace the burnt-out heating element.
Gas Burner problems
For gas-fired water heaters—whether tank or tankless—issues with the gas burners are a common reason for the water heater to lose its hot water capacity. The burners may be turning off too early, or they have low gas flow. Whatever the cause, you must have experts examine this problem, as any amateur work with an appliance hooked to a gas main is potentially hazardous.
Faulty Aquastat
The aquastat is the thermostat for the water heater that keeps track of the water temperature so the water heater won’t overheat. (This can create a major scaling danger.) If you aren’t getting the same level of hot water you’re accustomed to, the issue may be with a faulty aquastat that’s not detecting the right temperatures and is therefore shutting off the water heater early.
It’s Too Old
Unfortunately, in some situations, a drop in the volume of hot water from a water heater means the water heater is coming close to the end of its service life. Standard storage tank water heaters will last for around 12 years, so if yours is older than that, you may want to consider having it replaced rather than putting money into a repair that will merely patch it up for a short time.
Ask our technicians about the overall condition of your water heater and they’ll give you an honest recommendation about whether it’s time to replace it or not.
When you need help with your water heater, look to Carolina Climate Control. The Moose Is Loose in Your Neighborhood!
