No Hot Water? What To Check Before You Call

A cold shower on a weekday morning has a way of getting everyone's attention fast. If your water heater has started acting up, whether that means no hot water at all, water that never quite gets hot enough, or hot water that runs out after a few minutes, the good news is that most of these problems fall into a handful of recognizable patterns. Before picking up the phone, it helps to know what you're looking at and what it might mean.

The signs worth paying attention to

Water heater trouble tends to show up in a few common ways. Some are obvious, like no hot water at all. Others creep in slowly, like water that's never quite as hot as it used to be, a tank that used to last through two showers and now barely lasts one, or water pressure that seems to have dropped off for no clear reason. Any of the following is worth noting, and worth mentioning if you do end up calling someone.

• No hot water at all
• Water that won't get hot enough
• Hot water that runs out too quickly
• Inconsistent water temperatures from one use to the next
• Water pooling around the base of the tank
• Rust colored or discolored water coming from the tap
• Reduced hot water pressure
• Popping, banging, or rumbling noises from the tank
• Frequent breakdowns on an older unit

A few things you can check yourself

Before assuming the worst, there are a couple of simple things any homeowner can look at first. If your water heater runs on gas, check whether the pilot light is still lit. A pilot that's gone out is one of the more common reasons a tank goes completely cold, and it's an easy thing to rule out before assuming there's a bigger problem. If your unit runs on electric, check the breaker for that circuit and make sure nothing has tripped. Either way, take a look at the floor around the base of the tank. Standing water there is worth noting right away, since a tank that's actively leaking is a different kind of problem than one that's simply running out of hot water too quickly.

• Confirm whether the unit is gas or electric, and check the pilot light or breaker accordingly
• Look for water pooling at the base of the tank
• Check the thermostat setting on the unit itself
• Note any unusual noises, and when they happen

Why these symptoms often build slowly

Many of these problems don't appear all at once. A tank that's starting to lose efficiency might first show up as water that takes a little longer to get hot, or a temperature that swings more than it used to partway through a long shower. Noises like popping or rumbling are often tied to mineral buildup inside the tank over time, which is a normal part of how storage tank water heaters age rather than necessarily a sign of a defect. That's exactly why it's worth paying attention to small changes rather than waiting for the tank to fail completely on a morning you least expect it.

When a leak means more than a quick fix

A tank that's leaking at the base deserves to be taken seriously rather than mopped up and ignored. Even a small leak can point to a bigger problem developing inside the tank, and a leaking tank often means the unit is heading toward needing to be replaced rather than repaired. If you're seeing rust colored or discolored water alongside the leak, that's another sign the tank itself may be corroding from the inside, and it's worth having someone take a real look rather than waiting to see if it gets worse.

When it's time to call a plumber

Not every water heater problem means a new unit is coming. Martin McManus Plumbing & Heating has served Walpole, Canton, Dedham, Norwood, Milton, Stoughton, Sharon, Westwood, Randolph and the rest of MetroWest Boston since 2004, and owner Martin McManus is hands-on: he answers his own phone and takes action on calls himself. One customer, Ana K, wrote about a recent call: "They responded quickly and took care of everything to get us hot water back ASAP." If your own checks turn up a leak, discoloration, or a unit that's still acting up after you've ruled out the basics, it's worth having a licensed Massachusetts plumber take it from there.

Free estimates are available if you'd like an assessment before deciding how to move forward, and the business is open seven days a week, 7:00 am to 8:00 pm, with emergency repairs available, so a cold shower on a weekend morning doesn't have to wait until Monday to get looked at.

For a closer look at repair, replacement, and installation options, visit our water heater page, or call (617) 293-9741 for a free estimate.