There’s nothing quite like the comfort of a hot shower on a chilly, rainy day or after a vigorous workout. However, encountering an unexpected lack of hot water can quickly turn a soothing experience into a frustrating one, potentially throwing off your entire day. Fortunately, if you’re facing hot water issues in Seaford and surrounds, help is at hand. In this post, we’ll explore some common causes of gas hot water not working issues and provide you with practical solutions to get you back to enjoying those relaxing showers.
The pilot light is out
The very first thing to check if you have a gas water heater is the pilot light. Strong winds or storms can occasionally blow it out, resulting in a lack of hot water. If you find that the pilot light is out, simply relighting it may solve the problem and restore your hot water supply.
You can try to re-ignite the pilot light yourself, and if you have the water heater manual, there will be instructions to be able to do this. If the pilot light does not ignite after trying this, you may have to check to see if the gas inlet valve is open. If you find it isn’t, then you can turn the handle to turn it on. After waiting for about 5-10 seconds, you can try to re-ignite your pilot light again.
While most modern hot water heaters no longer have pilot lights, they will not have either spark ignitors or glow plugs instead. If you have one of these, you may require hot water repair in Seaford.
The size of your gas or electric water heater is too small
If you are a person that enjoys long showers, or there are many people living in your home, you may find that you will run out of hot water too quickly. This could be caused by your water heater being too small for the amount of hot water required in your home.
The water heater you have installed should be large enough to accommodate the hot water requirements of your household. There are many options on the market today, whether it be gas or electric, and your needs will differ from others. For hot water installation Bayside, choose The Drain Brigade. We are available 24/7 for emergencies, and we provide tailored services for your specific hot water needs.
You have a faulty heating element or thermostat issues
It’s possible that your hot water not working is due to heater is experiencing a thermostat issue. To troubleshoot this, you can check the following:
- You need to check that the settings on your thermostat are correct. In Australia, this is usually around 49°C. If it is below that, you will need to turn it up to ensure you have longer lasting and hotter water coming into your home.
- If the above isn’t an issue, check to see if your thermostat is physically damaged. This can include signs of corrosion.
- If you feel comfortable doing so, you can check to see whether the thermostat is working correctly using a multimeter. You would most likely need to disconnect the wires to test for continuity.
- Some thermostats have reset buttons. If your hot water heater has one, you can try to rest it and see if that will resolve the hot water issue.
If none of the above checks reveal any issues, you might be dealing with a faulty heating element. In this case, you can try the following steps for hot water not working:
- If your hot water heater is electronic, try turning off the main power and turning it back on again. This can be a bit of a reset, and can sometimes fix the issues.
- You may need to look at flushing the tank, as you can occasionally have sediment build up, which can potentially affect the heating element’s efficiency.
- You can check for the continuity of your heating element by using a multimeter. Usually, it should read somewhere between 10 – 30 ohms. If it comes up with either infinity or OL, your heating element is most likely faulty, and will require repair or replacement. We provide hot water installation in Bayside and can assist you with this as soon as possible.
- It is always a good idea to look at your heating element to see whether there are any signs of damage. This can include corrosion, breaks, or burns in the element.
It is always best to contact the professionals for hot water not working issues in Seaford. Give The Drain Brigade a call today so we can help you.
There could be a potential gas leak
If you suspect a gas leak might be causing your hot water heater to underperform, it’s crucial to inspect all your gas connections. Ensure you turn off the main valve first, then you can check your pipes for any unusual or unfamiliar odor coming from your pipes. If this occurs, you will need to keep the gas switched off and contact professional hot water repair Seaford to get this fixed.
Gas leaks of any kind can be dangerous, and should always be taken very seriously. It is unlawful for anyone to attempt to fix their own gas leaks, and can ultimately be fatal. There are many dangers of DIY, and you can read more about them in our blog, The Dangers Of DIY And When To Call A Professional.
Is your hot water tank leaking?
Water heater tanks are designed to hold water. So, if you find a puddle at the base of your heater, this is most likely caused by a leak. It is always best to contact a professional plumber to ensure it can be repaired. Sometimes, depending on the specific cause of the leak and how old you hot water heater is, it may be required to be replaced.
There are a couple of different ways your hot water heater may be leaking:
- If your hot water heater is leaking from the bottom of the tank, it could be an indication that there is a problem with the actual tank itself. This may be something such as a crack, or due to corrosion. If it is due to corrosion, it is most likely going to need to be replaced, as this is a signifier that your tank may be failing.
- If it is leaking from the top, you may just need to tighten the connections or replace the connections of the inlet and outlet pipes.
- Should your hot water heater be leaking from the drain valve, you may need to either tighten it or replace the drain valve.
You should also check to see whether the pressure relief valve is leaking, as this could be an indication of excessive pressure within the tank. If this is the case, you may be required to replace the valve, or look into the potential for a more serious hot water issue.
Still have no hot water?
If you have checked for all of the above, and found no issues, but still have no hot water, then contact the team at The Drain Brigade. You can call us 24/7 on 0414 255 066. Read more about The Importance Of Having An Emergency Plumber.
We are passionate about high-quality residential plumbing in Bayside Melbourne. We have an expert team with over 25 years of combined experience, and provide services to anyone located between St Kilda and the Mornington Peninsula. We pride ourselves on our goal to provide the best plumbing solutions within the shortest amount of time. We provide a number of services and can assist you with both common and not-so-common issues.
Still have more questions?
Check out our Blog page, or have a read through our Frequently Asked Questions. Alternatively, don’t hesitate to call The Drain Brigade today!
