Having hot water is a modern convenience that everyone should enjoy. Whenever you turn on the shower or any faucet, the hot water delivery should start to flow fairly quickly. The longer it takes to heat up, the more water you’re wasting, which also means you’re throwing money down the drain. If you’re noticing that it’s taking a long time to get hot water, there could be several reasons behind this inconvenience.
Why is it Taking so Long?
There are several reasons why it could be taking what seems like forever for your water to get hot. Some of the most common reasons include:
- Your water heater is too far away from the faucet or shower. The longer water has to travel, the longer it will take for the hot water to get there.
- If you have a low volume restrictor installed on fixtures such as your showerhead, it can definitely cause a serious delay in hot water delivery.
- Older water heaters will eventually become less efficient at providing you with hot water. If your water heater is over 10 years old, contact Five Star Plumbing for a full inspection.
- Sediment buildup is another common reason your water isn’t getting as hot as it used to. The sediment contains dissolved minerals like magnesium and calcium that can settle into the bottom of your tank. Over time, it displaces the amount of hot water, making it take much longer to heat back up between refills.
How to get Hot Water Faster
There are a few things you can do to get your hot water to you much faster, like:
- Try a hot water recirculation system. These systems may reduce the amount of water wasted while it’s waiting to heat up from the tap. It moves water much quicker from the water heater to your tap and then recirculates used water back to the heater. These units are usually activated with a timer or a thermostat. You can install them near your faucet or attach them to the water heater with a pump and timer to keep the hot water flowing.
- Switch your water heater to a tankless system. Tankless water heaters provide on-demand hot water delivery all the time, and you’ll never have to wait for the classic tank to be refilled. You will enjoy constant hot water and lower heating costs since a tankless heater does not need to heat unused water.
- Get an inspection. Older water heaters can fail completely or simply be much less effective at producing hot water. Call the professionals at Five Star Plumbing to evaluate your water heater. It could be a simple maintenance issue, or it may be time to replace your unit with a new one.
Call Five Star Plumbing at San Antonio, TX, for an appointment today!
