Is Your Water Heater Annoyingly Slow? Find Out Why

Little feels as nice as a hot shower on a chilly morning or after a hectic working day. However, it can be disappointing to turn on your showerhead only to find lukewarm water. Moreover, your heater may take ages to warm up the water, inconveniencing you if you're working with limited time. Since the cause of your heater being slow in operation may vary, you should hire an experienced plumber to assess your system for defects and repair them accordingly. The following are the reasons why your water heater may be moving slowly.

Elongated Piping System

If the pipes connecting your faucet and the water heater have a long stretch, the heated water will take longer to reach your shower at an optimum temperature. This is because most pipes supplying hot water are made of copper and will dissipate heat in the piping system as copper gradually absorbs the heat from the water. This results in partially warm water in your showerhead. A plumber must diagnose your piping system to reduce the length of the pipes supplying hot water and replace the copper lines with flex pipes. 

Old Water Heater

Each water heater has a projected service duration. Over time, the heater's components will wear out with constant usage—causing the system to work harder to heat the water and putting extra strain on the heater's elements hence breaking down. Therefore, if your aging system is taking too long to heat the water, you should contact a plumber to guide you through selecting a new unit to replace it.

Sediment Build-up

Hard water containing dissolved minerals may flow into your tank, causing calcium and magnesium sediment build-up. Without regular maintenance, the mineral accumulation will settle at the bottom of your heater, where the heating element is located. This impedes the heating element from functioning effectively, causing water to take longer to heat up. It is vital that a technician flushes your heating system and clears the sediment to improve performance.

Low Volume Restrictor

If you have a low volume restrictor installed in your plumbing fixtures, it can reduce the pressure of hot water, leaving it lukewarm. Moreover, these restrictors slow the flow of water, causing heat loss through the pipes as water takes long from your heater to the faucets. You should engage a plumber to readjust the restrictors to prevent delayed water delivery for a quick hot water supply in your taps.

Frequently waiting for your water faucets to produce hot water could cause your utility bills to rise. Therefore, you should contact a professional plumbing service such as Merrimack Valley Plumbing LLC to service your water heater to optimize performance and efficiency.