{"id":224,"date":"2014-12-16T16:25:37","date_gmt":"2014-12-16T16:25:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.redcapplumbing.com\/tampa_plumber\/?p=224"},"modified":"2014-12-16T16:25:37","modified_gmt":"2014-12-16T16:25:37","slug":"5-reasons-youre-hot-water-shower","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/themediabeast.com\/resources\/5-reasons-youre-hot-water-shower\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Reasons Why You\u2019re Not Getting Enough Hot Water in the Shower"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"cold<\/a>Can\u2019t finish a shower without the water going cold? That\u2019s a pretty common problem, with many possible causes.<\/p>\n

Here are 5 possible reasons why your shower is giving you the cold shoulder.<\/p>\n

1) Burned out heating element in electric water heater<\/h2>\n

In an electric water heater tank, a \u201cheating element\u201d is a copper or stainless-steel rod bent into a U-shape that heats the water.<\/p>\n

Some electric water heaters (30-,40- and 50-gallon) have 2 heating elements. If one of them burns out, the water heater will struggle to heat all the water.<\/p>\n

Get a plumber to inspect the heating elements.<\/a><\/p>\n

2) Deteriorated\/Broken dip tube<\/h2>\n

The dip tube is a long plastic tube that shoots cold water to the bottom of the water heater tank where it can be heated by the heating element.<\/p>\n

However, if your dip tube is broken, the cold water will flow to the top of the tank and get sucked up the the hot water supply pipe before being heated properly.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s why you\u2019re getting cold or lukewarm water when you shower.<\/p>\n

Sign of a broken dip tube<\/strong>: Examine your aerators, shower head, clogging strainers and filter screens on appliances for bits of plastic. These are from the deteriorated dip tube.<\/p>\n

Also, you most likely have a defective dip tube that\u2019s likely to break<\/strong> if your water heater was made between 1993 and 1996.<\/p>\n

Check the serial number on the tank. If the 3rd and 4th number are 93, 94, 95, or 96, then you may have a defective dip tube that has most likely deteriorated.<\/p>\n

We can replace the dip tube for you.<\/a><\/p>\n

3) Water heater tank not large enough for your family<\/h2>\n

Maybe your family has grown.<\/p>\n

Maybe your family moved to a new home with a smaller water heater tank.<\/p>\n

Either way, your water heater tank may not be meeting your family\u2019s hot water needs.<\/p>\n

Contact us and we can find the perfect tank size for your family.<\/a><\/p>\n

4) Tankless water heater can\u2019t keep up<\/h2>\n

Tankless water heaters heat water on demand.<\/p>\n

The downside of this? They can struggle to supply enough hot water if you\u2019re using several major hot water appliances at once.<\/p>\n

So if you\u2019re getting the cold shoulder in the shower, you either:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Need a larger tankless water heater<\/li>\n
  2. Need to run fewer major hot water appliances (shower, bath, dishwasher, washing machine, etc.) at once.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Contact us for help If you think you need a larger tankless water heater.<\/a><\/p>\n

    5) Too much sediment in the tank<\/h2>\n

    Over time, your water heater\u2019s tank can fill up with sediment (mineral deposits).<\/p>\n

    Too much sediment in the tank can:<\/p>\n