If you have lived with the same water heater in your home for long enough, you will have a good idea of the volume of heated water you can expect to receive from it. The usual test of this is during the morning, when multiple people take showers. If you start to notice that the hot water supply from your storage water heater is running out sooner than it used to, there are a number of possible problems that could be causing it. Repairs can fix some of these malfunctions; in other cases, it may be better to have the whole water heater replaced, especially if it is a few years over its manufacturer’s estimated lifespan.
Below are some reasons for a drop in performance from a water heater resulting in less hot water available:
1. Broken dip tube
The dip tube is the tube that takes fresh water down into the tank and to the bottom where it is heated up. The heated water then rises to the top of the tank where the circulator pump sends it into the hot water lines. If the dip tube breaks, cold water will start to gather at the top of the tank, and the amount of hot water you receive from the taps will drop significantly.
2. Problems with the burners
If you use a gas-powered water heater (the most common type), a decline in hot water volume may be due to failure in the burner. Rust or dirt on the burner will block the gas jets and result in a drop in heat.
3. Broken heating elements
For electric furnaces, the problem may be a broken heating element. These elements are electrical resistance coils inside the tank. Most water heaters have two heating elements, and should one fail, the other will not be able to handle the task of heating up all of the water in the tank.
At the first sign that your water heater is not working as well as it should, call Modern Plumbing Industries, Inc. (MPI) in Orlando, FL. We offer fast and effective water heater repair service.