There’s nothing quite like a hot shower to unwind after a long day, but that bliss can quickly vanish when you’re hit with a cold-water shock or suffer from a frustrating drop in water pressure. These annoying issues can disrupt your routine and leave you feeling anything but relaxed.
But don’t worry—we’ve got you covered. Today, we’ll take you through the most common problems with hot water systems and share practical solutions to get everything running smoothly again. With these tips, you’ll be back to enjoying uninterrupted, perfectly warm showers in no time!
Differences in Hot Water System Types
Each type of hot water system is unique and as such presents its own set of challenges. While it’s possible to encounter common issues like pressure drops or dodgy temps across all hot water systems, there are also a few issues that are unique to particular systems.
This could include encountering power supply issues in electric or solar hot water systems, or dangerous gas leaks with gas hot water systems. Understanding the unique challenges presented by your hot water system type can help in working out what’s gone wrong and how to sort it out.
Common Hot Water System Issues
The following are a few of the most common issues that hot water systems experience. We’ll start with the ones that any system can encounter and then touch on a few of the more system-specific issues.
Temperature Fluctuations
Let’s be honest, we’ve all been in the middle of enjoying a nice, relaxing shower at the perfect temperature and then all of a sudden been doused in freezing cold water. It’s like a sudden, unwanted ice bath, and nothing will wake you up quicker.
But why does this happen? Sudden temperature changes or random fluctuations can be caused by dodgy thermostats, sediment build-up, faulty thermostatic mixing valves (TMV), or even something as simple as someone else using the water on the property.
Regardless of the cause, the good news is, this issue is simple enough to fix. First, confirm that it’s not something as simple as someone else using the hot water at the same time. Then move on to checking your hot water system; inspect the thermostat and TMV for any malfunctions. If you find any issues, you’ll need to contact a hot water system plumber for advice and repairs. This could include readjusting the temperature on the thermostat or replacing it or the TMV if they’re beyond repair.
Alternatively, if the system looks fine, it could be that a layer of sediment is sitting on the heating element making it ineffective. You can remove this sediment by flushing out your tank.
Pressure Fluctuations
Similarly, many of us would have experienced the sudden switch from enjoying a beautiful cascading waterfall from the showerhead down to a slow trickle–or a light shower. It’s just as disappointing, but again, thankfully there are some fairly simple causes and fixes for this issue.
Sudden or prolonged water pressure fluctuations or losses are often caused by a blockage in the pipes, leaks or a water supply issue from the mains. Additionally, like temperature fluctuations, it can be caused by others using the water at the same time, so be sure to check for this first, especially if it’s a one-off thing.
Start by checking for obvious blockages and check if the issue is isolated to the one shower or throughout your plumbing system. Next, inspect your hot water system and the area around it for leaks or puddles. If you notice either of these issues, contact a licensed plumber for advice and repairs, as they will be able to safely and effectively clear any blockages or repair leaks,
Additionally, you can check your mains for a pressure issue by purchasing a pressure gauge and attaching it to an outside tap. You’re looking for 2-4 bars or 30-60 psi, anything outside of this is abnormal and needs professional attention. Alternatively, you can get a plumber to test the pressure for you and provide expert advice and solutions.
Water Quality Issues
The next red flag to keep an eye and nose out for is discoloured or foul-smelling water. This, fortunately, is a less common problem, but it does happen. Sometimes if a large amount of sediment builds up inside your system it can give your water a brown colour and bad or metallic smell.
This can also be caused by large amounts of rust in the water, especially if the sacrificial anode inside the tank has corroded completely and allowed your hot water tank to deteriorate.
When this happens, the best thing to do is to call a plumber and flush out the tank. In some cases, this may resolve the issue, or you may just need to have the sacrificial anode replaced, however, unfortunately, if your hot water system has serious damage or corrosion it will likely need to be replaced.
System Damage or Leaks
If your hot water system springs a leak, malfunctions or becomes damaged in any way, it will likely cause a series of issues that we’ve already discussed, including temperature or pressure issues. Spotting hot water system damage requires paying attention to the state of your system and any signs that it’s giving you, such as fluctuations or complete loss of hot water.
Unfortunately, there are no real simple DIY fixes to manage this issue, you will need to contact an experienced hot water system plumber to inspect your system, diagnose the cause of the issue and provide tailored solutions.
Gas Leaks
Now, we’re onto the first of the unique issues: gas leaks. Gas hot water systems have the possibility of leaking gas if any of the connections are damaged by wear and tear or external factors. This can lead to hazardous conditions if you breathe it in or if it’s exposed to heat sources or sparks.
Gas can cause headaches, dizziness or respiratory problems if inhaled, and it is highly flammable if exposed to heat, so quick actions are essential for ensuring safety.
You can generally spot a gas leak by its rotten egg-like smell, hissing noises or if your gas hot water system is malfunctioning. If you notice any of these signs, you need to evacuate ASAP and call a licensed gas plumber for emergency repairs.
Solar Panel Issues
The second unique issue to look at is the solar function of solar hot water systems. These systems are great for doing your part for the environment and reducing utility costs, however, they can present issues if the weather isn’t right or if your panels become damaged.
Solar hot water systems rely on the power of the sun to heat your water, so on rainy or overcast days, they tend to be slightly less effective, leading to a lack of hot water. Additionally, if the panels are damaged by storms, hail or other falling debris it can make them ineffective at capturing power and heating your tank.
Unfortunately, the only real fix for weather-related problems is to invest in a secondary backup tank to cover your usage on days when the sun’s in hiding. As for damaged panels, you will need a licensed plumber to repair or replace the damaged components to restore proper function.
Restore Comfortable Hot Water Supply
When your hot water system gives you lemons in the form of low-pressure or freezing cold water, you could make lemonade, or you could take some steps to restore your hot water system. By knowing the most common hot water system issues and what causes them you can act more proactively to tackle the issues head-on, with some simple checks and the help of a professional plumber.
So, next time your system douses you in cold water or reduces your flow to a trickle, give our experienced hot water system plumbers at Mario’s a call for expert advice and lasting solutions.
