There is nothing worse than enjoying your perfectly comfortable shower and then BAM, you’re hit with a blast of icy cold water. Now that is something that can ruin the rest of your day. If you are getting random blasts of cold water in the middle of a warm or hot shower there could be some problems with your plumbing or hot water heater. Before you call a plumbing and heating professional there could be a few things you can do to fix this issue or at least pinpoint the problem.
See if it’s a specific shower issue:
- Test the other water sources in your home, if that one shower is the only fixture that gets cold after heating up, then it may be an issue with just that one shower. There can be a few reasons as to why just that one shower is not performing properly. Using old galvanized steel pipes can lead to corrosion and needing new pipes for the shower. If this is not the case, you would then need to check the hot water shut off valve for the shower. It may be closed or partially closed, if so, then open it all the way and see if that fixes the issue.
If it’s a shower valve issue…
- Shower valves (just like any other home appliance) can get worn down over time. The rubber parts can disintegrate or swell and cause issues as the years pass. When the rubber parts expand they can block some of the hot water flow to the shower stream. Also the rubber parts could possibly break off inside the hot water valve causing a blockage thus stopping some hot water from reaching you. If your pretty handy it’s possible to go in, take apart the valve and remove the broken off pieces, and replace the rubber portions. However, you should remember that in order to gain access to the hot water valve it is hidden behind a wall and might only be accessible by a hidden panel.
If it’s all of your hot water fixtures…
- Then there is a good chance there’s something wrong with your hot water heater. The first step will be to check the temperature setting on the heater. If that is all set then there could possibly be a blown or tripped fuse (if you use an electric heater) that you would need to address. If you use gas then it could be the pilot light that is out. You can look into the manufacturer’s manual of your water heater model and find out how to re-light it.
Once you’ve tried all of the above quick-fixes and nothing seems to be working, then it might be time to get into contact with a professional to take care of your water heater woes. Master Tech Plumbing and Heating Inc. has been servicing the Cape Cod, MA area and beyond with over 20 years of experience. Give us a call today or fill out the form on this page and we’ll reach out as soon as possible.