No one wants to wait 5 minutes for the water to heat up in the bathroom, or worse, not get any hot water at all.

Faucet Cartridge

If you are not getting any hot water from your faucet, it may be the cartridge inside the faucet.  If this has been gradually becoming a problem over a period of a few months, it may be from hard water.  Minerals start collecting in the faucet cartridge restricting the hot water flow.  You may be asking yourself, why is it if effecting just the hot water and not the cold water?  Higher water temperatures cause the deposits to accumulate.

Anti-Scald Device

Check the anti-scald device in your bathroom fixture is set at too high of a limit.  The device basically limits how far you can rotate the knob to access hot water so you don’t scald yourself when turning it to the hottest setting. The only way to know is to take the head off the handle and inspect this.  We suggest that you have this done by a trained plumber.

Pipe Leak

There are other things to check when there is no hot water.  If the water isn’t heating up and it is accompanied by a decrease in water pressure, there may be a leak in the hot water pipes, possibly below the slab.

Recirculating Pump

Now if you get hot water, but it takes a few minutes, then you might just need a recirculating pump.  It brings hot water to the bathroom furthest from the heater quicker.  When you turn on the faucet, you’ve got hot water right away.  These can run continuously or be set on a timer.

Water Heater

Your water heater may not be large enough for your family, or if it is tankless, it could not be working well with your fixtures due to water saving devices or improper sizing.  If the hot water is a whole house problem then it is most likely your water heater.  If you are experiencing lukewarm or cool water flow, you may want to have the heating elements or dip tube checked to see if these are working properly.

Regular maintenance from Benjamin Franklin Plumbing® of Tampa can help you avoid these issues in the first place. If we notice that the cartridge in the faucet or shower is hard to turn or is making funny noises, we can replace the cartridge. We can also recommend adding a recirculating pump, or other options that will improve your hot water flow in your home. All you have to do is call us at (813) 536-4515 or request your service online.