Have you ever jumped into your shower only to be welcomed by icy or lukewarm water? Well, that can be explained!

Here are seven reasons why your hot water is out, and how to fix it.

Leaking hot water pipe

If you are suddenly left without hot water, it is possible you have a hidden leak somewhere in your home’s plumbing system. If a pipe is leaking in your basement, for example, it will not reach your bathroom. As long as the pipe is not hidden in a wall, you should be able to easily tell if this is the reason for your lack of hot water. However, a leak in a hidden pipe could be more of a challenge to detect.

If you suspect you have a leaking pipe, call us and our expert plumbers will solve the problem and restore your hot water.

Broken heating element

Electric water heaters have an element (sometimes two) that heats your water. If you have ruled out a leak and still do not have hot water, it might a problem with the heating element. Water heaters typically have a lifespan of around 7-10 years. If your water heater is around this age and you are without hot water, it is possible the heating element has failed and needs to be replaced.

Tripped breaker

Your water heater might have tripped the breaker. Check your panel and reset the breaker. If it happens again, that signals an electrical problem and you should call in a professional. You may have to replace your heater, depending on the severity of the problem.

Undersized tank

If everything is working well, but you constantly face a cold shower if you are the last one in, your water heater might be undersized. To avoid constantly waiting for your water to heat up to take a shower, consider replacing your water heater with one that has a larger capacity or switching to a tankless option.

Pilot light problems

If you have a gas-fired water heater, the pilot light could be the reason you do not have hot water. If you are not sure how to check your water heater’s pilot light or have tried and still do not have hot water, give us a call.

An incorrect or broken thermostat

Water heaters have a thermostat to set the supply temperature. It might be set too low, which does not give you enough hot water for your shower. If you attempt to change the temperature settings on your thermostat and still do not have hot water, you might need to replace it.