Why am I Only Getting Cold Water From My Electric Water Heater?

Do you have an electric water heater but no hot water? For most people, this is an immediate stressor that leaves you unsure of what to do next. Once you understand the cause of your problem, you can find the right tools or hire a plumber to help get the problem resolved and hot water in your home once again. Here are a few things that might be causing your water heater to not have hot water.

Is It Plugged In?

This might seem like an obvious fix to the problem, but if your water heater has been unplugged or if a breaker has been tripped, then your tank is not getting power and therefore cannot properly heat your water. Remember to always have only your water heater on the circuit because the power required to heat your water is too great for it to share with any other appliances. While your first instinct might be to call a plumber when this happens, you actually need a trained electrician to help get your breaker back in working condition. 

Reset Button

When you notice your hot water is not heating as it should, go out to the water heater tank and press the button to reset the entire system. This button is almost always found right next to the thermostat on the tank panel. If you experience the water heater flipping off again once you have reset it, then you will know it is time to call in the professionals. Fountain Plumbing can be there to help get your electric water heater with no hot water back to normal. 

Leaking Water

Generally speaking, if you have a leak on your water tank, then you can almost always know that you are going to have to find a replacement. There are some tanks that leak from the top and others that leak from the bottom – both mean that your tank is malfunctioning and the only way to resolve the issue is to replace the tank. You will know if yours is leaking because you will be able to see water coming out of it or a pool of water around it on the ground. Water and electricity is a tricky combination so its probably best to call in the pros when you have this happen. 

Still Running Out After Replacement

If you have replaced your heating element or even the entire unit, but still find yourself taking cold showers, the problem might not be with your water heater at all. Families with children who take long, hot showers might notice that there isn’t any hot water left for them when it is their time to hop in the shower. In this instance, your water heater might not be large enough for your family’s needs. If you have 1-2 people generally a 30 gallon tank will do the trick. For 3-4 people, 40 gallon tanks are recommended and for 5 or more people you need a 50 gallon tank. 

Many families have to come up with a schedule to spread out showers to keep enough hot water in the tank, but it is also helpful to not run any other appliances that use hot water while someone is in the shower. If you have any questions regarding your electric water heater with no hot water, call Fountain Plumbing today! 

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