Why Does My Home’s Water Take So Long to Heat Up?

If your shower takes forever to heat up, or you have to wait a long time for hot water while you’re trying to wash the dishes, your heating system likely has an issue that needs to be fixed. While you can expect your water to be cold when you first turn on a faucet or run your shower, it should only take a few minutes for your water to start warming up. When your home’s water is slow to warm up, there are a few common causes you’ll need to be aware of.

Reasons Your Home’s Water Might Take a Long Time to Heat Up

When you know the main causes of why your water takes too long to heat up, you can solve the issue faster and start enjoying hot showers again. Review the most common reasons why your water is taking too long to heat up below:

1. Low-Volume Restrictor

Sometimes, a shower or a faucet might have a low-volume restrictor installed on it to help save water. Though these restrictors can help you lower your water usage, they can also cause a delay in hot water. 

This issue can be made worse if your water heater is located a long way away from the faucet or shower, as the hot water will have to travel a great distance and then pass through the restrictor to reach you. To solve this issue, you’ll want to contact a plumber, as they’ll be able to inspect the faucet for one of these restrictors and come up with a solution.

2. Old or Malfunctioning Water Heater

Water heaters typically last around 10 years, and as they age, they can start to break down and need repairs. When your water heater starts to malfunction, it will often struggle to heat your water and become more and more inefficient. The longer you use a water heater past its normal lifespan or after it’s started showing signs of needing a repair, it will become more inefficient and struggle to send you hot water quickly.

If you have an older water heater, you’ll likely need a full water heater replacement. For a newer water heater that’s malfunctioning, a repair by a professional can often be enough to give your home hot water again and speed up the time it takes to reach you.

3. Sediment Build-Up

As water passes through your water heater, it can cause sediment to build up in your water. This sediment build-up can block heat transfer, resulting in longer water heating times. 

Fortunately, depending on the tank’s age and condition, a professional plumber may be able to solve the issue by flushing the tank. After flushing the tank, the sediment will be removed, and you should start receiving hot water quickly again. If the water heater has never been flushed, there is a possibility that there’s too much sediment build-up, and flushing the water heater won’t do anything. In that case, you may need a full water heater replacement.

Why Won’t My Water Get Hot at All?

If your water won’t ever get hot, no matter how long you wait, your water heater has likely broken and needs to be repaired or replaced. Instead of trying to find the issue and try to fix it yourself, contact a professional plumber who can inspect your system and give you the best solution possible.

Choose Bonney for Water Heater Repair and Replacement Services in Sacramento

Now that you know why your water is taking too long to heat up, turn to Bonney for water heater repair and replacement services in Sacramento and Concord. As soon as you contact us, our team will perform an inspection and ensure you’re fully informed before providing any repairs. If you end up needing a full replacement, we can help you find the perfect option for your home, such as a tankless or solar water heater, and then install it for you. Find out more about our water heater services today. If you have any questions or want to schedule a service, please contact us.