Why Is There No Hot Water in My Shower?

Stepping into the shower only to have ice-cold water pouring on your head can lead to a shockingly bad morning. No hot water in the shower often means no hot water anywhere in the house due to a problem with the water heater.

Several issues can cause your hot water heater to stop working or to work poorly. Let's take a look at some of the most common issues that can leave you without hot water:

• Malfunctioning heating element
• Problem with the pilot light
• Dip tube issue
• Pressure balancing issues
• Blocked or leaking pipes

This guide delves deeper into each issue, explaining signs that could indicate a concern and outlining what to expect from a plumber during repairs.

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If you only get cold water from every tap in your house and your water heater looks fine from the outside, it could mean you have a malfunctioning heating element. Before getting to the point of having no hot water, you might notice that your hot water temperatures were inconsistent. One day, the water was hot, but bearable, while on a different day, the water was scalding.

Other signs your heating element is faulty might include a lack of hot water. You turn on the tap and get hot water for a few minutes, but then it runs cold. If your heating element isn't working, a plumber can typically replace the unit in an hour or two, and the cost of the part is nominal at around $60.

The pilot light combusts the gas that powers the heating function in your water heater. If you don't have a gas unit, this won't be an issue. Say you do — whenever you don't have hot water, check the pilot light first. If it's out, you won't get hot water. If it's flickering or isn't a blue flame, that indicates there's something wrong with airflow to and around the pilot light.

In this instance, it's crucial that you call a plumbing professional to take a look and figure out what's causing the trouble with your pilot light.

The dip tube is a submerged pipe inside your water heater tank that pulls cold water from the top down to the bottom of the tank to get it closer to the heating element. When it works correctly, your tank heats up more quickly and evenly. If your dip tube is clogged or broken, it can mean you run out of hot water faster, and it may take longer for a new supply of water to heat.

The acidity levels in your water determine how long the dip tube lasts. Typically, it lasts as long as the water heater, but if you notice plastic particles in your hot water, it could mean your dip tube is eroding. Replacing a dip tube is quick, easy, and inexpensive, making it a reasonable repair option if that's what's causing the problem.

Sometimes, no hot water in the shower isn't due to the water heater. It could mean your pressure balancing valve has gone up. The balancing valve allows you to set your tap to pull from both hot and cold water sources. If the valve is stuck on cold, you'll only get cold water. Stuck on hot? You'll get only hot water until that runs out. If you have hot water at other taps in the home, make sure a plumber checks the balancing valve for possible issues.

Blocked or leaking pipes can cause issues in and around the water heater or anywhere further down the line. If your hot water is blocked from reaching the shower or leaking out before it gets to that bathroom, it could leave you with no hot water in a limited area. Leaks are often obvious, but if the leak is slower and hidden behind a wall, it may take longer to notice.

Lower water pressure is a sign of a partially or near completely blocked pipe or leak. If you've noticed a change in your water pressure, have a plumber come out and inspect your lines as quickly as possible.

Stuck taking cold showers in the morning? Contact Advanced Air ASAP to get your water heater repaired. Our no-surprise pricing and 100% satisfaction guarantee mean you'll be back to hot showers in no time.