Why Is My Water Not Getting Hot Enough?

Modern technology is wonderful. It enables us to live much more comfortably than our ancestors could ever have imagined. One of the most important conveniences so integral to modern life is the availability of hot water with the turn of a tap. In the past, heating water required burning wood or coal and lots of time, and it was usually not available on demand.

With today’s water cylinders, most of us have access to all the hot water we want at any tap in the home. However, what if your water is not getting hot enough? If your water is coming out cool or lukewarm, there are a few things you can check, as well as a couple of deeper issues that might require professional assistance from an EasyFlow plumber.

The first thing to check is your thermostat. Is it set correctly? Of course, many homeowners are unaware of what their thermostat should be set at in the first place. Your water should be a minimum of 50 degrees C to kill bacteria. It can be set higher than this for comfort. However, be aware that very hot water can pose a risk of scalding to young children in the home, so use caution.

It is possible that your thermostat has not been bumped or misadjusted. Old thermostats may be faulty. If you set the thermostat and find that you are still unable to get an adequate temperature from your water cylinder, it may need to be replaced.

Water cylinders heat water through what are called immersion heaters – specially designed heaters that sit within the tank and are completely immersed in water. As the heaters warm, the temperature transfers to the water in the cylinder.

However, immersion heaters will only last for so long. Over time, debris can build up on them, limiting their effectiveness. A thick coating of minerals can prevent most of the heat generated from reaching the water surrounding the heater. Regular maintenance can help prevent this from happening.

It’s also possible that one or more immersion heaters within the cylinder are faulty. In this case, you may have lukewarm or even cold water from the hot tap. Two options exist for rectifying this situation: replacing the faulty immersion heater(s) and replacing the entire unvented cylinder.