One of the main issues that many homeowners experience with their water heaters is slow hot water recovery time. With this problem, even simple tasks like taking showers and dishwashing require more time waiting for the water to heat up. This isn’t a good thing as it affects your comfort and results in more energy consumption. It could be particularly inconvenient to those Normal, IL homes with impatient teenagers and busy schedules. If your water heater isn’t performing as required, you should have it inspected by a water heater repair technician. Below are 8 reasons that could result in slow hot water recovery.
Poor Water Heater Ventilation
Poor ventilation is one of the reasons your water heater has a slow hot water recovery time. A sufficient supply of oxygen and combustion gases is necessary for safe and proper combustion. Lack of enough air supply can affect the performance of your water heater, resulting in slow hot water recovery. One way to resolve the hot water recovery problem is by having a water heater repair technician provide enough openings per the manufacturer’s specifications. The ventilation air, in this case, can be directly supplied from outdoors. Remember, lacking combustion air means your water heater will have a low-quality flame. It will have less heat to heat the water, reducing efficiency and performance.
Blocked Flue Baffle, Flue Way, and Burners
If the water heater has a slow recovery rate, it could mean that the flue way, burners, or flue baffle are blocked. The water heater should exhaust the by-products of combustion outdoors via the vents with no obstructions. The ventilation system in your water heater should be installed per state or local codes. The unit can only operate efficiently and safely with proper installation. Hence ensure that a water heater repair technician comes for routine maintenance to unclog the flues and burners.
Low Gas Pressure
Waiting too long for the water heater to heat your water? It could be because of low gas pressure. Confirm with your gas utility provider to see if there is an issue with gas delivery. If there is a gas pressure issue from the utility provider’s side, they will resolve the problem to ensure that your unit can heat the water quickly. However, low gas pressure issues can also happen because of issues with the gas supply lines to your water heater. This is among the problems a water heater repair technician may diagnose during the maintenance visit to your Normal, IL home. The low gas pressure results in an improper fuel air-gas mixture and incomplete or poor combustion. This results in prolonged heating of your water.
A Too Small Orifice
If the orifice on the water heater is too small or clogged on your water heater, you might notice that it takes longer for the water to heat up. Improperly sized and wrong orifice type can result in slow hot water recovery. Because natural gas and liquefied petroleum work at different pressures and you’re converting between gas types, the differently sized gas orifices will impact the heating. If you need the orifices replaced or unclogged, have it done by a professional water heater repair technician.
Too Small Unit
Did you install the water heater when you were only living alone? Have you added new bathrooms since you installed the water heater? If either of these things has happened and you haven’t replaced the water heater, that could be the reason for the slow hot water recovery. You might have a situation where the water heater cannot handle the increased demand because it is too small. You also might have a situation where your water heater cannot heat the water fast enough because it has fewer BTUs. Having a water heater repair technician install a larger unit with a higher GPM is the only solution to this problem.
Sediment Accumulation
Hard water can cause sediment buildup in gas water heaters. Water temperature and dissolved minerals might enhance tank bottom buildup. The sediment layer increases to the extent that it reduces the transfer of heat between the water and burner flames or between heating elements and water (electric type). Because of that, water heaters take longer to heat or generate less hot water. You can prevent sedimentation in hard water locations. Have a water heater repair technician flush your unit if you hear knocking sounds from your water heater tank.
Thermostat Set Too Low or Damaged
If your water heater’s thermostat is set too low, you will have uncomfortable showers, insufficient heated water delivery, slow recovery, and bacterial growth. The manufacturer’s recommended temperature range for your thermostat is between 120-125 F. To raise the temperature, crank up the temperature knob. Avoid raising it too much because doing so could result in burns and scalding temperatures. You may need to remove the access panel from some heating systems, such as electric models, to change the temperature using a flat screwdriver or the control panel’s buttons. However, this might require the attention of a water heater repair technician in Normal, IL if the thermostat is faulty.
Plumbing Crossover
During the water heater installation, ensure that the cold water supply piping is connected to the blue ring (cold water inlet) and the hot water piping is connected to the red ring (hot water outlet). Plumbing crossover is the issue that arises with damaged checking and mixing valves and single-handle faucets. It allows cold water to cross over to the hot side and vice versa, reducing the water temperatures. If you are experiencing a high water recovery issue, call a plumber for water heater repair services to ensure that the dip tube isn’t broken. If broken, the technician will repair it to ensure water can be heated normally.
All the issues above can be prevented with regular maintenance. If you need water heater tune-ups, repairs, or installation, contact us at Covenant Plumbing.
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