No Hot Water at the Taps? Discover 4 Common Causes

25 Aug 2018

When you open your hot tap, you expect to be rewarded with a steady flow of heated water. In most cases, that’s exactly what happens, but there can be issues that prevent this from happening. If you’re experiencing no hot water at the taps, there are a few common causes that might be the issue. We’ll explore those below.

Blown Breaker

Perhaps the most common reason for no hot water at the taps is that the water heater isn’t working. This is usually because a breaker in your fuse panel has blown. Breakers are designed to trip in the case of overvoltage situations to prevent fires, shocks and other dangerous conditions. If the breaker has tripped, simply reset it. Watch to see what happens – if the breaker trips again, you need to contact a professional for help.

Blown Fuse

In addition to the breaker, your hot water heater probably has a fuse that controls its operation. This is a layer of redundant protection designed to help ensure your safety. Check the fuse and if it is blown, replace it. If it blows again, then call for help. If you’re not sure where your fuse is located, check the owner’s manual, or call a professional to help.

Dead Immersion Heater

Yet another possible reason for no hot water at the taps is a problem with one or both of the immersion heaters in your water cylinder. These are heating elements that sit within the body of the cylinder, and are designed to be surrounded by water. They heat up, and warm the water around them. Over time, immersion heaters are subject to wear and tear, as well as scale build-up from minerals in the water. This can cause them to fail. When that happens, your water heater will no longer warm water. A failed immersion heater must be replaced – it cannot be repaired.

Sediment Build Up

Finally, there is a chance that sediment build-up has blocked the outlet line. This will prevent water from flowing out of the water heater and to the taps. However, this is not a situation that develops overnight. It’s usually one that occurs slowly, and chances are good that if this is the issue you’re facing, you’ve also dealt with slowly decreasing pressure at the tap for some time now. This is a dead giveaway that there is sediment slowly accumulating at the bottom of the water heater. Eventually, this will cause the cylinder itself to begin rusting out.

If you’re struggling with no hot water at the taps, you could be faced with any of these four potential problems. There are other possible issues, as well, such as a blockage in the hot water line, or an issue somewhere else in the system. Don’t try to go it alone here. Call for professional help. You can reach the expert at EasyFlow at 0161 941 5571. We can offer hot water heater repair, maintenance, installation and more.

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