Top 9 Reasons Why You Have No Hot Water in House

Winters are around the corner but there is no hot water in the house. What could be the reason?

Not being able to get the hot water when you open the shower in winter doesn’t only make you pissed off but you also get worried about the working of the water heater. However, the issue can be minor as well that can get away with a little functioning.

In this article, we will discuss a few reasons that result in no hot water in the house. Before figuring out the actual cause, ensure which water heater you are using i.e electric or gas, and then act according to it. Let’s get started.

Electric Water Heater Not Working

If the electric hot water heater not working and you are worried about how to resolve this issue at home, below are a few easy and straightforward solutions that will be easy for you to check. It includes:

Restart the Water Heater

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Before going to the depth, turn off the water heater and wait for a few seconds or minutes. Now turn on the heater again and wait for half an hour so that it starts functioning again. After 30 minutes if still, it is unable to bring hot water, proceed to the next solution because the problem is not as simple as we were expecting.

Do not forget to switch off the main unit before inspecting your water heater for your safety. If you have zero knowledge regarding this work, better call a professional because any unpleasant accident can occur.

Flip the Circuit Breaker

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Now move towards the circuit breaker and flip it off and on. Sometimes when the breaker is too old or due to being overloaded, it stops working.

If you are also dealing with the same problem call a professional because they can better look into this matter. However, after flipping the breaker off, wait for a few seconds before turning it on. It might work out in some cases.

Call a Professional

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Sometimes the issue is big enough that you can not fix it at home for which you have to call someone so that it gets fixed as soon as possible.

If the tank leaks or the circuit breaker needs to be replaced, call a pro before the issue becomes significant and it starts damaging other water heater elements. They will better examine the real cause and how to come out of it.

Gas Hot Water Heater Not Working

If you have a gas water heater in your apartment or house and suddenly it has stopped giving hot water, follow the below-mentioned steps for the perfect solution.

Relight the Pilot Light

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If you have a gas heater and there is no hot water in the apartment, better check the pilot light because sometimes it is snuffed out when the window remains open.

Ensure whether you can easily relight it as the instructions are also mentioned Sometimes it is difficult to do it when it is encircled in the burner chamber. For this purpose, you have to call someone instead of doing it yourself.

Issue in Thermocouple

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If the pilot light is successfully on then you are all done as you do not have to proceed further but if the flame doesn’t stay on for longer then the issue is still there. The thermostats located on the upper side control all the upper and lower heating elements.

However, the lower thermostats are only responsible for the lower heating elements. If it suddenly stops working it will cause no hot water in house. So what should be done? replace the thermostat because it is at fault and will cause more issues if you won’t replace it as soon as possible.

Tripped Circuit Breaker

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There is a circuit breaker box inside the water heater so ensure whether it is tripping or not because sometimes cold water results in tripped circuit breaker.

If you find out the circuit breaker is tripping, off the breaker and again on it after some time. If it is still tripping, call a professional so that they can recover it.

Other Causes of the Hot Water Heater Not Heating

There are various other factors that become the reason for cold water. Let’s have a look at all those factors so that it becomes easy for you to get rid of them in the future.

Small Tank Size

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If you have a small hot water tank comprising a family of 4 or 5 members, the issue is in the size. The water in a small tank gets cold quickly so it is better to bring a large size tank so that every family member will get hot water.

In winter, the hot water demands rapidly grow as you have to wash dishes, wash fash, and take shower. Hence, instead of looking for any issue, change the size and you will never complain about cold water.

Affect of Weather

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Do you know that the outside weather temperature also results in hot water or cold water? If you reside in an area with extreme cold, it will be difficult for a water heater to keep giving hot water, especially in winter.

It impacts the water heater system and you will continue getting cold water so it is better to put the heater in a way that the cold breeze doesn’t directly blow to it.

Water Leak

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Sometimes, the water leak becomes the reason for cold water. If there is any leakage issue, it is better to get them fixed for which you do not have to go in depth.

Simply, tighten the leakage connections and you will be all done. However, the leaking tank also results in water heater replacement.

4 Signs You Need To Replace Your Water Heater

Sometimes the only solution you are left with is replacing the water heater. Now the question arises of how you would know whether your heater needs replacement or it can be fixed with another solution.

Let’s talk about those 4 signs that depict it as the right time to get a replacement.

1. Old Water Heater

The normal lifespan of the water heater is 10 or a maximum of 15 years. If your water heater’s life exceeds this number, it is a sign you should get it replaced because even if you successfully fix the issue it will create more problems in the future.

2. Muddy Water

If you have suddenly started experiencing muddy and sandy water? it is time to change your water heaters asap. However, in some cases, you can clean your heater from the inside but mostly you need a replacement.

3. Bad Odor

When you turn on the heater and you observe some strange metallic smell. It might be due to issues in the water heater that it might be going to break down so better switch it with a new one.

4. Odd Noises

The last sign that depicts why it is the right time to change the water heater is when you start to listen to odd noises from the inside.

FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions

If you are still confused that why the electric hot water heater not working or the water not getting hot, here we go with some commonly asked questions that might ease your confusion.

What to Check when there’s No Hot Water?

Firstly, check the pilot light that whether it needs to be enlightened or not. Later, check the thermostats because the lower thermostats often become the reason for cold water.

Also, have a look at the circuit breaker that whether it is tripping or not. Also do not forget to ensure leaks.

What are the Reasons for No Hot Water?

It can be due to cold water temperature, an old water heater that now needs to be replaced, circuit breaker tripping, any leakage, etc. There are numerous reasons that need to be checked in this manner.

Why is My Hot Water Not Working but My Cold Water is?

There are two thermostats that are placed on the upper side and the lower side. The upper side is responsible for both cold and hot water but the lower one is only responsible for hot water.

Hence, if the lower thermostat is faulty, it will result in no hot water.

Why is No Hot Water Coming out of My Taps?

You can call a professional that will better guide you about the exact problem. Moreover, you can check the leak in the water heater because it is mainly due to this reason.

Final Thoughts

I hope now you got an idea that why you have no hot water in house. Water heaters are one of the most commonly used items that should be functioning properly so that you keep getting hot water in winter.

If you are also dealing with this issue, I hope this article will help you get rid of it as soon as possible. Take notes and follow the instructions mentioned in the guide.