Why Is My Water Heater Taking So Long To Heat?

If the water in your home is slow to heat or your water heater just can’t seem to keep up with your family’s needs, Alliance Plumbing Services can help. Slow water heaters can be caused by a variety of issues, and there are several available solutions to the problem. A professional plumber can evaluate your system to determine your exact issue and offer a customized fix, but for now, we’ve put together some information on why your hot water heater may be slow to recover and possible ways to get things back up and running as you expect.

If you have questions or you’d like to learn more about our water heater service options, contact Alliance Plumbing at 281-488-0296 today.

Five Reasons Why Your Water Heater May Be Heating Slowly:

1. Placement: The more distance hot water has to travel, the longer it takes to receive hot water from your tap.
2. Water Volume Restrictor: A volume restrictor, which slows down the flow of water through your pipes, is commonly installed on fixtures like shower heads.
3. Water Heater Failure: Water heaters typically have a 10-year life span. If your water heater is older, it may be running less efficiently than it should, and it’s more prone to completely failing. If your water heater is getting up there in age, contact a professional to have it inspected.
4. Tank Sediment: Mineral-based sediment accumulates at the bottom of your tank, right on top of the heating element. This can block heat transfer and cause your water to heat slowly. A professional plumber can flush out your tank to get things running as they should.
5. Undersized Unit: If your family has grown or your habits have changed, it’s possible that your water heater is just too small. Call a professional to have your current system evaluated based on your current hot water needs.

How Long Should It Take To Get Hot Water?

All gas and electric water heaters have a unique recovery time, which is the amount of time needed for the tank to produce hot water after it has been emptied. On average, it takes an 80-gallon gas water heater approximately one hour to recover. Your water heater may take more or less time than this. Hot water heater recovery time is dependent on several factors:

• The size of your tank: Larger tanks take longer to fill and heat.
• Your tank’s First Hour Rating (FHR): FHR is a measurement of how long it takes your tank to heat. The higher the rating, the faster the tank will heat.
• Fuel: An electric water heater takes about twice as long to heat as a gas unit.
• Temperature: Colder water takes longer to heat.

How Can I Get Hot Water Faster in My Webster Home?

Adding a Hot Water Recirculation System

A hot water recirculating system uses a timer or a thermostat to keep hot water moving efficiently from the water heater to your taps. It also recirculates used water back to the hot water heater to increase efficiency and speed up the heating process. Systems are available for individual faucets or they can be installed directly on the water heater to serve the entire house.

Installing a Tankless Water Heater

A tankless water heater provides an endless supply of hot water to your home, made possible by the fact that tankless water heaters don’t use tanks to store or heat water. Water is heated right when you need it, for instant hot water whenever you need it. This results in zero recovery time and saves money on your utility bills since the unit isn’t wasting energy maintaining the temperature of a tank full of water. If you don’t want to replace your entire water heater, there are point-of-service models available that can be attached to particular taps in your home, which is a good solution for undersized units.

Choose Alliance Plumbing for All Your Houston-Area Water Heater Needs

We are a locally owned and family-operated plumbing company that provides superior products and expert service to our customers in the Clear Lake area. We offer iron-clad guarantees on all our plumbing services, and we provide 24-hour emergency service you can rely on any day of the week. Alliance Plumbing customers are satisfied customers, and it shows in our numerous positive reviews. We’re proud recipients of a variety of service awards, including Angi’s “Best” Award, Nexstar Customer Satisfaction Award, Better Business Bureau Gold Star Certificate, and the Houston Community Newspapers Readers’ Choice award. Let Alliance Plumbing be the professional plumbers your family can trust and depend on any time you experience plumbing issues.

Contact Alliance Plumbing at 281-488-0296 to schedule an appointment in Webster to address your water heater needs!