Having no hot water can be a real pain. No steaming showers, no refreshing baths, and not being able to do the washing properly.
Here are some common causes for a lack of hot water and a few steps you may be able to take to fix them.
1. Check The Boiler Or Water Heater
Although this is bound to be the first thing that comes to mind, it is worth mentioning. It’s a great place to start that could be overshadowed when you’re in a rush.
Most modern boilers and water heaters can display error codes which should be easy enough to find within the instruction manual. While some error codes may result in you needing to give one of us a call, some of them are quite simple to fix.
Whilst we would still recommend checking in with a trained individual for some of these simpler solutions if you aren’t confident, a boiler or water heater reset may be all you need to make your troubles go away.
Some other solutions may come from checking the pressure levels or the clock, to help pinpoint any issues.
2. Checking Your Pilot Light
Another specific part of a boiler you can check is the pilot light. Older boilers and water heaters that don’t display the information listed in reason one may be fitted with one of these.
If your pilot light has gone out, perform the steps required to reignite it, which may be found within your instruction manual.
Modern boilers aren’t fitted with pilot lights in most cases and are instead equipped with glow plugs or spark igniters.
If your boiler is fitted with one of these plugs or ignitors, or you are not comfortable igniting your pilot light, we recommend calling one of our engineers.
3. Checking your other appliances
Another reason for no hot water could be a lack of power. Whilst you can check the fuse box to look for any tripped switches, your other appliances can be a good indicator if you believe this to be the case.
You can easily check your gas by briefly turning on your cooker, or performing general tasks with your other appliances.
Power cuts can be a leading cause for a lack of hot water, so it’s best to perform your general routine for solving these if you’ve had one recently.
4. Gas Supply Problems
Whilst this may not apply to everyone, another cause can be if the gas supply for your water heater has been cut off or obstructed.
Regardless, it is worth checking to see if your gas supply has been accidentally turned off (which you may be able to discover performing reason 3 on this list).
A more dangerous case in terms of gas could be a gas leak. If you aren’t comfortable handling your gas or have fears of a leak, we highly recommend asking for assistance from one of our engineers.
5. Frozen Pipes
Although we are heading into the warmer months, this is a tip you can bank for later. Frozen pipes will block the water supply to your boiler or water heater and cause a world of problems, including burst pipes.
If you believe your pipes to be frozen, it’s always best to check in with a neighbour first; if their hot water supply is fine, this should aid you in confirming your suspicions.
Before you can begin to deal with the issue, turn off your stop tap. From here, you can begin slowly pouring tepid water over your pipes to fix the issue.
During the process, you should check your pipes for any damage. Damaged pipes can eventually lead to burst pipes, causing you further problems in the long run, so it’s best to address these damages quickly.
So there you have it – a list of reasons why you have no hot water, and some suggestions to help you deal with them.
If you need to talk to a professional, give us a call on 01223 248240 and we will be happy to help.