Tips to Help Maximise Your Hot Water

Struggling with no hot water? If you’ve checked the water heater’s circuit breaker, power/fuel supply, and connection to the mains and found nothing, chances are good that you’ve simply used all the hot water in the cylinder, and it hasn’t had a chance to refill and heat up once more. While you wait, why not explore a few tips that can help you maximise the hot water your cylinder produces?

Aeration Is Your Friend

A simple tip to help you reduce the amount of hot water used at many of the taps in your home is to install aerators. These mesh discs fit into your existing fixtures and add air to the flow of water. That limits the amount of water used without making it feel like you’re trying to wash up in a trickle. We recommend aerators in most taps, particularly bathroom and kitchen fixtures. Yes, they only reduce your water consumption by a small amount, but every little bit counts.

Low-Flow Showerheads Matter

The shower is one of the greatest wastes of water in the average home. While UK residents might not take the indulgently long showers that Americans do, there’s still room for improvement. Low-flow showerheads let you reduce the amount of water you’re using without shorting your time to wash up.

Change Your Schedule

Overconsumption (using too much hot water in a short span of time) is the number one cause of no hot water in your water heater. If you use all the heated water, the cylinder must refill and heat the water again before you get full heat. The best option here (short of investing in a larger water heater) is to analyse your schedule and then readjust.

There are many reasons that you might be using a lot of hot water in a short time, including people showering while you’re washing dishes, multiple back-to-back showers, showers and baths in close conjunction, and more. Find out the capacity of your cylinder and then adjust your usage schedule accordingly.

Don’t Wash Clothing in Hot Water

If you wash your clothing in hot water, stop. Your clothes washer uses a significant amount of water, and you’ll likely have little or no hot water left for other tasks. Most clothing also doesn’t benefit from washing in hot water. It can make colours fade faster and it can also shorten the lifespan of your garments. Only use hot water for very heavily soiled clothing or if you need to disinfect garments. When in doubt, read the garment’s care label.

Upgrade Your Water Heater

Finally, if you’ve tried everything and just can’t seem to make your hot water stretch, it’s probably time to upgrade. You’ll find that modern unvented cylinders are available in a wide range of capacities to fit almost any demand. They’re also available in configurations suitable for different installation areas, from under the stairs to inside the garage.

At EasyFlow, we can help you make the most of your existing water heater with annual maintenance plans. We’re also happy to help you choose a new one if it’s time to upgrade. Contact us today for more information!