As mentioned above, several things can cause a home's hot water supply to run out faster than it should. The three most common culprits are sediment build up, a faulty heating element and a broken dip tube.
Tankless water heaters typically have a lifespan of 20 years or more. Traditional water heaters with standing water tanks can last around 10 to 15 years before you notice signs of age.
A few situations that can result in this type of water heater problem include: Sediment that builds up on the element, making it overheat. A faulty thermostat. An electric short within the wiring of the element.
Low water pressure
If your shower goes cold after a few minutes, it might be that you've been unlucky enough to be showering just as the water pressure dropped. The best thing to do is see if other taps are experiencing lower pressure, plus check if your neighbours are experiencing a problem too.
After several years of use, either type of water heater is subject to mineral deposits and sediment buildup that can cause it to require more power to heat water, reducing the appliance's overall efficiency.
If you're experiencing inconsistent hot water or if you're unable to maintain a constant temperature, your hot water heater is likely nearing the end of its life. An ideal temperature for hot water is between 120 and 140 degrees, and the water should consistently be hot.
Water Heater Maintenance Tips
Flush your water heater every six months or so. If you have harder water, or water that contains more minerals, you may want to flush it more often. If you leave town, change your water heater to its vacation setting. The pilot light will stay on, but the water will not be heated.
The most common part that gets damaged is the “Dip Tube”. When it gets worn down, it leads to the mixing of cold and hot water. So, you feel as if the hot water runs out after 10 mins. The Solution – A damaged dip tube has to be replaced.
Gas, electric and tankless water heaters need to be flushed every 6-12 months. This prevents the buildup of sediment, rust and corrosion. You also need to check the anode rod and the temperature release valve on gas and electric water heaters annually.
It's better to leave the hot water heater on all the time, rather than turning it on and off. This is a very common energy saving myth. But in fact, you really don't need to be heating your water all the time. Your immersion heater or boiler will heat up hot water which is stored in a tank.
Consider insulating your electric water heater if it's warm to the touch. If not, consider insulating your water heater. Water heater insulation could reduce standby heat losses by 25%–45% and save you about 7%–16% in water heating costs—and should pay for itself in about a year.
You're accustomed to the sounds your water heater makes as it's running. If an out of the ordinary noise disrupts this, it often indicates a problem requiring repairs. The most common warning sound you may hear from the tank of a water heater is called kettling.
Neglecting a leak can lead to a tank explosion. Signs of leaks include moisture or puddles around the water heater's base and water corrosion on the side of your tank. Contact a trusted professional immediately if you notice these warning signs. Knocking Noises: Loud noises are an indication of sediment buildup.
Old water heaters are much less energy efficient, both because they are aging and because standards were lower back then, which could mean more money you're paying each month in energy costs compared to a newer heater. It's generally accepted that most water heaters last an average of about 13 years.
A loss of hot water volume
A water heater that's dying will begin to lose its capacity to heat up enough water. You'll still have hot water from your taps—you just won't have as much of it. A way to measure this is if people in your house aren't getting hot showers in the morning because the water runs out early.
What happens if you don't flush your water heater? The longer your water heater goes without a drain-and-flush, the more sediment and minerals will accumulate at the bottom of the tank. Eventually, this causes scaling.
Rheem hot water systems have a typical life span of between 5 and 15 years depending on water conditions and how well the system has been serviced. You can add years to the life to a Rheem hot water system if you have it serviced every 5 years.
It is recommended that you flush your water heater at least once per year. Doing so will help to prevent the potential problems that sediment can bring over time.
If your shower is going hot and cold, it's usually caused by not enough water getting to the shower. So first of all check that the valve coming into your house is fully open and the valve on the line to the shower is fully open.
Faulty dip tube. Dip tubes push incoming cold water to the bottom of your hot water tank to be heated. If it has worn out or is otherwise defective, the cold water mixes with the heated water at the top of the tank. This decreases the overall temperature of the water that's going to be sent to your shower.
Your shower has faulty pressure-balancing valves.
Faulty valves are common causes of temperature fluctuations in the shower. The pressure-balancing valves, also known as thermostatic mixing valves (TMV), blend cold water with hot water to provide constant and safe shower temperatures, preventing scalding.