Waking up early and hopping into a cold shower is not a fun way to start your day. So what is causing your hot water to run cold? One of these six reasons is likely to blame for your icy wake-up call.

Reasons Your Hot Water is Cold

1. Leaking hot water pipe

If a pipe is leaking in your basement, for example, it won’t reach your bathroom, especially if your shower is on the second floor. As long as the pipe isn’t hidden in a wall, you should be able to find the problem easily. However, a leak in a hidden pipe could be more of a challenge to detect. Call us right away at (866)844-3770 if you suspect that you might have a leaking pipe.

2. The pilot light is out

This is a potential issue if you have a gas-fired water heater. If you don’t know how to check your heater for the pilot light, look in your owner’s manual. Follow the instructions to relight it and if it doesn’t work, you likely have a bigger problem that needs special attention.

3. The burner isn’t working

Electric heaters have an element (sometimes two) that heats the water. If you do not have hot water and there is no leak, your element might not be working. These water heaters typically have a lifespan of about 7-10 years so if your heater is around this age, it’s possible that the element has failed and needs replacement.

4. The thermostat is set wrong or not working.

Water heaters have a thermostat set at a specific temperature. It might be set too low and not giving you hot enough water to have your shower. Follow the instructions to change the thermostat setting. If it still doesn’t work, you may need to change your thermostat.

5. The Breaker Tripped

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 give us a call right away. You may have to replace your heater, depending on the severity of the problem.

6. The tank is too small

If everything is working well but you constantly face a cold shower if you’re the last one in, your heater might be undersized. You can either race to the bathroom before everyone else, wait for the water to heat up again, or replace your heater with one that has a larger capacity.

Call in a professional

Don’t take chances with your hot water system. Give us a call to make sure everything is working well and to keep your hot water running.