5 Tips to Make Sure You Always Have Hot Water

    Do you often run out of hot water when taking a shower or washing the dishes? You probably wonder why this happens as you wait for the water to heat up again. Some possible reasons why you don’t get enough hot water in your home include:

    • The size of the water heater tank is too small for your household
    • The heating element is burned out
    • Your household uses too much hot water
    • You don’t have a hot water tank

    Whatever the problem, you can have a lasting solution to hot water shortages if you take the right steps. Here are some practical solutions:

    1. Schedule Your Household’s Hot Shower Routine

    Changing your household’s shower routine can help you ensure you always have hot water. If every person in the house takes a shower in the morning, or does laundry,  runs the dishwasher, etc. at the same time, consider having some people stagger these activities at other times during the day. This will give your water heater more time to produce more hot water.

    2. Install a Low-Flow Showerhead

    If your current showerhead releases a lot of water, it explains why you run out of hot water fast. Installing a low-flow showerhead releases less water per minute. If installed correctly, a low-flow showerhead can reduce water usage by about 40%.

    3. Install Point-of-Use Tankless Water Heater

    A tankless water heater only operates when there’s a demand for hot water. When you turn on the hot water tap, cold water passes through a pipe into the tankless water heater. The heater makes the water hot for use through an electric element or gas burner. 

    Tank water heaters are measured by storage capacity. On the other hand, tankless water heaters are measured by the amount of water they heat per minute. Most tankless water heaters have a heating capacity of between 2.0 and 2.5 gallons of water per minute. Remember that it will take your tankless water heater a few seconds of delay before it reaches the target temperature.

    4. Insulate Everything

    Heat can escape your water heating system while it’s in a working mode. When the heater loses heat, you are impacted because the water loses heat, too. To avoid this happening, insulate your pipes and water heater tank. This will help to keep heat inside the tank.

    Have the insulation professionally installed and ensure the heater’s thermostat remains uncovered. Insulate all the pipes that carry water throughout the home using foam insulation for the most significant impact.

    5. Repairs Are Crucial

    Ensure you have a professional from a company like this Somis water heater company check the piping and heating elements regularly. If your water heater needs a heating element or dip tub, ignoring the problem won’t make it go away. Instead, it will only get worse and prevent your system from being efficient.

    Bonus Tip: Flush the Hot Water Tank

    Sediments can build up in the water heater tank over time. If left intact, the residues can be a source of major problems like:

    • A blocked heating element that prevents the tank from producing hot water
    • Clogged pipes that cause bigger problems than lack of hot water
    • An explosion of the water tank

     It’s advisable to flush the water tank at least once or twice per year. This will keep the heater in good condition to ensure you have enough hot water. If you’re continually experiencing problems like running out of hot water, you need to make a few adjustments. These include rescheduling your shower routines and installing new hot water systems. 

    Don’t forget to schedule periodic repairs and insulation of the pipes and heating system. Lack of hot water will quickly become a problem of the past.