If your hot water heater isn't giving you hot water, it doesn't necessarily mean that you need a new hot water heater. Your hot water heater may have other issues that need to be repaired, and not necessarily needs to be replaced. If your hot water heater is giving you warm water, rather than hot water, read on for a few things you can do to get it working properly again.
Check the Gas
Check to be sure you have your gas turned on. There could be a chance that your gas was turned off. If someone accidentally turned off the gas and never turned it back on, you won't have anything to heat your water. In this case, you're just using what is still in your tank and the water inside may only be getting warm from the heating element still being somewhat warm. If your gas valve was turned off, turn it back on.
Adjust the Thermostat
The thermostat on your unit may have also been turned down so much so that it only gives you lukewarm water rather than hot water. If this is the case, check your thermostat on the unit to see what it is set to, and make necessary adjustments.
Pay Attention to Usage
If you have more people suddenly in your home, or you are using a lot more hot water than you once did, the water heater may not have anything wrong with it at all, the problem may be the size of your unit. The unit may not be large enough to suit your needs any longer and you need a new hot water heater that has more capacity to meet your hot water demands.
Unblock the Heating Element
The heating element in the unit may be blocked with sediment buildup. If there is a lot of mineral buildup, it can eventually block the heating element and prevent heating the water properly. If the heating element is blocked, you need to drain the water out and suck out the sediment using a shop vacuum. Drain your water in the tank and then attach a shop vacuum to the valve opening once empty. Suck out any sediment from the unit, then fill the tank back up and test it out.
If your hot water heater is not giving you any hot water, a replacement may not be necessary at all, you may just need some maintenance and repairs performed on the unit. Contact a company like Countryside to work on your hot water heater, or to replace it if needed.
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