If your water is leaving you cold, try these tips to warm things up

Few things are more jarring than waking up on a cold morning only to find that you have no hot water to take your daily shower.

So what can you do when there’s no hot water?

Your Brooklyn plumbing experts at Petri Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Drain Cleaning offer the following tips to help you determine if your water heater can be fixed or needs to be replaced:

1. The shower was warm but quickly cooled off.

If you’re the last person to take a shower that morning, the issue may be that your water heater isn’t big enough for your needs. As families grow, the size of the water heater should, too.

2. The water is lukewarm.

Ideal operating temperatures for water heaters are between 122 and 140 degrees. Check to see that the temperature setting hasn’t been accidentally turned down and adjust it back to normal range if it is. You should see hot water return in about 30 to 40 minutes.

3. Blame it on the cold rain.

A cold snap in your area could impact the effectiveness of your water heater, causing it to suddenly stop working. When it sits unused as temperatures plunge, older models may suffer. Try turning it up to its hottest temperature just to see if it kicks back on.

4. Water on the floor.

While this can be a sign of a faulty temperature and pressure relief valve, stuck valves or a bad gasket, it can also be a sign that the water heater has corroded beyond repair and needs to be replaced.

5. Weird noises.

If your water heater is banging and making a series of odd sounds, it could be a case of sediment buildup in the tank. You can try flushing the tank, but if the buildup is too much, it may be time for a new water heater.

Water heaters, like your HVAC system, need yearly maintenance to run at peak performance. A water heater tune-up includes a check of the safety valves, supply pipes, system drainage, shut-off valves, anode rod, thermostat, and heating element.

And, when all else fails, you can call in the professionals to diagnose the problem and get you on the road back to hot showers once again. At Petri, we are Brooklyn’s water heater experts. Give us a call to schedule an appointment.