Is Your Shower Giving You The Cold Shoulder? Check Your Electric Water Heater For These Problems
Is your shower not producing any hot water? If so, your first step should be to check the other hot water fixtures in the house. A whole-house hot water problem indicates a problem with your electric water heater. Water heater faults can cause the unit to produce little or no hot water, leading to a crisis in the home. Below are four main electric water heater problems that you may encounter.
High Hot Water Demand
An increase in the demand for hot water can deplete the supply, especially if you have a tank unit. For example, if you run multiple showers while using the dishwasher, the water may not be enough to meet your needs. In this case, you need to replace your water heater with a bigger tank or go for a tankless system. Tankless water heaters provide a continuous flow of hot water, meaning you don't have to worry about inadequate hot water.
Tripped Circuit Breaker
A tripped circuit breaker is a sign of electrical problems with your hot water system. Some electrical issues to look out for are:
- Faulty breaker: If the breaker itself is faulty, it may trip without cause. This issue can also occur due to a loose wire in the electrical panel.
- Bad electrical wiring: Faulty electrical wiring can cause the breaker to disconnect electricity flow to prevent a hazard.
- Water leaks: If water is leaking from the water heater and dripping on the electric components, it can cause the breaker to trip.
Locate your home's electrical panel and check the water heater's breaker. If it has tripped, do not reset it without fixing the underlying problem.
Worn Heating Element
Electric water heaters use heating elements to heat water. Tank water heaters have two heating elements. One is located near the top of the tank and the other at the bottom of the unit. The top element turns on first and heats cold water in the top half of the tank. Once the water is hot, the upper element switches off, and the lower one turns on to heat the water in the bottom half of the tank. If either or both elements are worn, you may receive little or no hot water. You can fix this problem by replacing the damaged heating element.
Faulty Thermostat
Each heating element in an electric water heater has an individual thermostat. The thermostats sense the water temperature and turn the heating elements on and off. Therefore, if one thermostat is faulty, its heating element won't work. Consequently, your water heater won't work correctly. Therefore, replace the faulty thermostat to restore the proper functioning of the heater.
Nothing dampens a morning more than turning on the shower only to be hit by ice-cold water. Contact your plumber for water heater repairs and upgrades. A plumbing service can provide further information.