A hot shower is a great way to destress. However, your shower water not getting hot enough can get extremely annoying and disrupt your routine. This is because the water in a shower gets heated in the geyser and not in the shower itself. The water in the geyser should be hot enough to come out hot from the showerhead. It is good to keep in mind that the issue might be the geyser, which we will talk about in this article.
Here are some reasons why your shower water is not hot
Faulty faucet
You also need to check whether the issue is with the whole house or just the shower. The o-ring or the washer might have burned out, which might cause the valve not to be able to mix the water properly. Cold water may flow out when you turn the knob towards the “hot” setting. The good news is that you can quickly fix it at home yourself. Stores carrying home supplies will have all the parts needed to carry out this repair.
Cross-connected pipes
To balance out the hot and cold water flow in older houses they install cross-connected pipes. However, this is no longer needed as shower mixers now exist. You might have a cross-connection issue if you find that the hand sprayed in the bathroom runs hot water when the main shower is off. It is best to get professional remedy for this as you might not have access to behind the wall plumbing for the shower.
Shower issues related to the anti-scald valve
The anti-scald valve can be the issue if you’re getting hot water everywhere but your shower. It is possible that you might have set the limit of the anti-scald valve too high. Shower faucets have this device for safety reasons. It sets an upper-limit based on your shower’s ability to handle hot water. This will also make sure that you do not get sprayed by scalding hot water in the shower.
Also, Read – How to stop water from running out of shower
You will need to check whether the anti-scald valve in your shower is set at a temperature higher than you should. You can do this at home or you can call a professional to help.
Shower issues related to the mixing valve
Another issue to look for when you are not getting hot water in your shower is a bad hot water mixing valve. There are a few signs to help you determine if this is the case:
- Low water pressure – The water pressure of the shower can lower when you switch the knob to the hot water side. Your mixing valve clogging could be the root of this issue.
- Dripping shower head – An easy sign to look for is if you have turned your shower knob off completely and still find hot water dripping.
- Inconsistent hot water – An older mixing valve will not function optimally after some time. This can result in it not being able to maintain the fluctuations in water temperature that can occur within the system.
Pipe related issues
It can also be a pipe-related issue if you hear your pipes rattling when you switch your shower on. If you are experiencing this issue, the best thing to do is reset your mixing valve.
As we have mentioned before, it is a good idea to get a professional to help you fix your mixing valve. You can do this at home, but it is an intricate process that can sometimes lead to injuries if not done correctly.
Water-heater issues
The majority of the time, the problem lies in the water heater. It is a good idea to check if the water heater’s temperature is set correctly. One of the elements may have burned out if you have an electric heater. The cold water supply tube might have deteriorated when it comes to old water heaters. The cold water might also be going into the water feed pipe directly instead of going into the burner for heating purposes. To check if that is the problem, you can examine the faucet strainer for any plastic pieces caught in it.
Other issues
1. The water going into the heater is too cold
The most common problem with the shower is that the water that goes into the heater is too cold, and there is not enough time to heat up before you take a shower. Sometimes, the water temperature is set differently to save energy during the summers. You can go to the water tank and re-adjust this by yourself. The thermostat can also be an issue if you face this issue even after adjusting the water temperature. In such cases, consulting a professional is a good idea.
2. The demand for hot water is too high
Sometimes the demand for hot water in the area can be high. It is advisable to get a tankless water heater in such situations. A tankless water heater can heat your water on demand. Your heater tank will usually store hot water in its tank. This means you will only get as much hot water as the tank can hold. A tankless heater can solve this problem quite quickly.
3. Time of use
It is a good idea for you to consider the time you shower. Your hot water might have run out if your kids or other family members shower before you. The washing machine makes use of a large amount of hot water. You might not get hot water when you shower if you put a load in right before one. It is good practice to let 30 minutes pass after a washing machine load, or someone showers to then have on yourself.
In Conclusion
there is no one answer to why you are not getting hot water in your shower. And in most cases, the problem is with the process before the water reaches the shower’s faucet. However, you can look at the list of reasons given in this article and get help from a professional to determine what you are facing.
