Why do I keep running out of hot water?

27 Oct 2019

With a modern hot water heater, you should have access to plenty of warmed water for use with showers and bathing, washing dishes, and for any other needs. However, if you’re running out of hot water on a regular basis, there may be any number of causes. Below, we’ll take a look at some of the more common ones.

Cylinder Size

The most common reason to run out of hot water regularly is that your cylinder is simply too small to meet your usage needs. Consider installing a larger cylinder to hold more water.

Over Use

It is possible that too many people are trying to use the hot water at the same time. For instance, if someone is taking a shower and you are also washing dishes, you will deplete your store of hot water twice as fast.

Sediment Build-Up

Sediment is found in all water and it settles to the bottom of the water heater cylinder over time. If your cylinder has not been properly maintained, it can build up to the point that it affects both the volume of water stored in your cylinder and the temperature your cylinder can maintain.

Programming

If you have a programmable thermostat on your cylinder, it is possible that it is set to a schedule that does not match your lifestyle. Make sure it is set to heat water so that you have a full supply ready during peak usage times. In some cases, you may have a timer on your cylinder rather than a programmable thermostat.

Heating Element Issue

If your water heater used to provide you with ample heated water but is no longer doing so, the issue could be a heating element inside the cylinder itself. Many water heaters use dual elements, and if one fails, the remaining element may not be sufficient to heat the water, causing you to run out quickly.

If you’re experiencing problems with your water heater running out of hot water regularly, it is time to contact a heating engineer certified to work on unvented water cylinders. If you’re in Greater Manchester, Warrington, Liverpool, Chester or Leeds and need repairs or an annual service, EasyFlow can help you. Call us now on 0161 941 5571.

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