While doing the dishes or taking your morning shower, waiting for hot water can add time to an already long day. But why does the hot water take so long to arrive at your taps? Furthermore, can you quickly address this issue so that hot water is available?

These questions are crucial because having quick access to hot water involves more than simply practical considerations. Not only are you wasting time, but you’re also losing money while you wait for the water to go from the hot water heater to the tap. 

So instead of spamming Google with things like “Melbourne Hot Water Repairs” or “Hot Water Plumber Near Me”, let’s discuss some of the possible causes of why hot water may not arrive at the taps quickly and what you may do to get hot water instantly.

REASONS WHY IT TAKES SO LONG FOR HOT WATER

Knowing the cause is necessary before you can remedy the issue of delayed hot water delivery. The distribution of hot water can frequently be slowed down by a number of different circumstances.

• WATER ALREADY IN THE PIPES

The fact that there is water in the pipes is one of the most fundamental causes for why many homes must wait for hot water to come out of the tap. When you turn on the tap, water immediately begins to flow, but it won’t initially originate from your hot water heater. Instead, the water already present in the pipes that are connected to the tap is the first to arrive. The water there could be warm or frigid.

• DISTANCE TO HEATER OF HOT WATER

The water needs to travel a long way from your water heater to the shower, sink, or tub, which is another reason why it is taking longer for hot water to flow from a tap. For instance, it can take a while for hot water to reach the sink in your second-floor bathroom if your water heater is in the basement.

Cold water will precede while the hot water is making its way to your tap if it must travel through dozens of yards of curving pipes. Inconvenience and water waste may come from this.

• VOLUME LIMITERS

A volume or flow restrictor might potentially cause a delay in the hot water. Numerous appliances, including your showerhead, are made to have a low flow rate. A volume restrictor is put in some. These gadgets are designed to cut down on the water flow through your tap.

While these are excellent for saving money and water, they can delay the supply of your water. You might have to wait longer for hot water when the flow of water is slower. If you already have a problem with hot water, such as living far from the water heater in your house, the delay can be more obvious.

• DEFECTIVE WATER HEATER

A broken water heater may be to blame if your water used to heat up quickly, but you’ ve noticed that it now takes longer for hot water to reach your taps or that you run out of hot water too soon. The average water heater is designed to last eight to twelve years. If your water heater is getting close to the end of its useful life, it can have trouble functioning or even stop working altogether.

You should call a service technician or a commercial plumber in Melbourne to come take a look at your water heater and identify the issue if it looks less efficient than it once was. They might identify a maintenance issue that needs to be addressed, or they might inform you that the heater needs to be replaced.

• SEDIMENT BUILDUP

Sediment buildup is one issue that may affect your water heater’s efficiency. Our homes’ plumbing systems use water that contains minerals like calcium and magnesium. It’s typical for water to have some minerals. Hard water, on the other hand, can have over 60 milligrams of dissolved minerals per litre in some homes.

In especially in homes with hard water, minerals can accumulate at the bottom of the heater’s tank. Over time, sediment accumulation reduces the amount of room left in the tank for water. Hot water will run out more quickly in a tank with a smaller water capacity than in a tank without any sediment.

• THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE

Even if your hot water heater is in good working order, it could still have trouble maintaining a continuous flow of hot water during cold weather. Water that enters your home underground will be cold if the outside air is chilly.

In order to heat the water to the desired temperature, usually 120 or 140 degrees Fahrenheit, your water heater must work harder. Cold pipes in your walls can cool down hot water once it has begun to move from your tank to a tap in your house. If your water needs to travel far from the tank, you’ll probably notice cooling.

• PIPES’ SIZE AND THICKNESS

Last but not least, the water pipes in your house may be a factor in the issue of hot water delivery. The length of time it takes for hot water to emerge from a tap may depend on the pipe diameter. Larger diameter pipes may carry more water, which means it takes longer for hot water to go from point A to point B.

Your hot water delivery is also impacted by the pipe’s wall thickness. For metal pipes, the ability of the pipe walls to absorb heat from the water as it passes through the pipe increases with material thickness. Due to their greater thickness than copper pipes, galvanized pipes may cause your water to cool off as it travels to your fixture.

REACH OUT TO YOUR GO-TO PLUMBER IN MELBOURNE

As discussed, there might be a lot of reasons that you don’t have enough hot water. And instead of wondering “who is the best blocked drain plumber near me” or “how can I find the best water heater repair plumber near me”, you must contact Locality Plumbing. We have a team of experts in Melbourne, who provide solutions to every water heater problem.