Imagine this: you love taking a hot shower. That’s nothing out of the ordinary. But one major annoyance in that spot of relaxation is when your water won’t heat up accordingly. Perhaps your water heater is malfunctioning? Getting the problem fixed might not be as simple as you might think.
Your Pipes Are Too Big
For starters, find out if your pipes are too big. Incorrectly-sized pipes can be a huge problem when it comes to water distribution throughout your home. Every time you turn on a faucet, cold water comes out. That’s because this chilled water lingers in the supply lines; it’ll take a few minutes for warmer water to reach you.
Insufficient Insulation for Your Plumbing
Inadequate insulation is also an issue. When it’s cold outside, your water is more likely to freeze. However, during the spring and summer, this problem shouldn’t occur as often – or be as frustrating. Better insulation will prevent the warmth from leaking out. Installing foam pipe sleeves is so easy even hesitant homeowners can do it themselves. Start by pulling the sleeves open. Then, place them on the pipe that you wish to insulate. Use the included self-adhesive strip to secure the sleeve, and cut to the proper length. If the sleeves are too long or too short, they’ll cause even more problems than they solve.
Low Flow Rates
Low flow rates are intended to conserve water. While this is an admirable goal (and feature), the fixtures that utilize this technology could prove to be a nuisance. This attribute is that the low flow rates take longer to flush out the previously cooled water. So if you aren’t happy with how your faucets and showerheads perform, consider switching to a high-flow system instead. Remember, the farther away a plumbing line is from the water heater, the longer it will take for hot water to reach you. Some integrated valves will automatically adjust flow rates based on the temperature of the supply, so be mindful of that as well.
An Excess of Sediment
Too much sediment can hinder your water heater’s output. Ordinary tap water contains minerals that you can’t see. Some of them benefit your wellbeing, and others are harmful to your health. That’s part of the reason that filtered water tastes better than unfiltered. However, this sediment can impede the transfer of heat from the onboard heating elements. The quickest solution is to flush the heater. Even though you could conceivably manage this by yourself, it’s probably a much safer idea to let a licensed plumber do it for you instead.
All of Your Plumbing Needs from Master Plumbing
Give Master Plumbing a call at (301) 650-9100 or contact us online to get more information on how our expert plumbers can help you with just about anything plumbing-related! We have received Angie’s List Super Service Award recognition for plumbing and drain cleaning every year since 2007, in addition to the Best Plumber award from Best of Bethesda. We are fully licensed, bonded, and insured, and our service is unparalleled. Give us a call today—you won’t regret it! To see examples of our projects, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.