Why does it take so long for my water to get hot?

Question

It takes a really long time for my water to get hot -- so long that I think the clothes never actually get washed in "hot" water. I have to run the shower up to 5 minutes before I can get in. I know this is so wasteful -- is there any way to make it get hot faster? By the way, the people who lived in this house before us added one of those "instant hot" things to the water heater, and I don't know if it was worse before that, but it sure isn't instant now.

Answer 1

Your first two answers are great, parts of the third are ok, but turning up the temp won't significantly affect recovery time, having it hotter doesn't make it heat up faster, just creates a small buffer while you live in the "scolding zone", but most likely it is an old water heater, with old plumbing, and it's due for replacement.

Answer 2

Consider the length of pipe between your waterheater and the faucet you are running the water from. All the water in that pipe must be emptied out before the hot water gets to you.

There are some other possible reasons for your hot-water problem.

1) an electric water heater needing a new heating element & repair.
2) the control is set below the safety recommended 120 degrees
3) Instant-Hot water heater may not be working properly.
4) look into the possibility of locating the water heater closer to where your faucet is
5) consider insulating your pipes

Answer 3

Do you live in an apartment building with all of you using one hot water tank, or do you live in a situation where YOU are the only 'family' using the tank? If you are the only family (even just one is still a 'family') then go to your hot water tank and first see if the 'instant on' thingy is still attached and working. If it is, then try turning up the temperature ... while the government 'recommends' keeping the water temp at 120 degrees, I like REALLY HOT baths, and turn our tank up to 160 degrees. That will keep your water 'hotter' and you'll 'feel the warmth faster' when you turn it on. It WILL use more 'energy' but if you like using really ot water to wash your clothes or take a bath, this is your BEST solution. IF that doesn't work, then there is a problem in the 'pipes' between the tank and the 'faucets' and you'll need to call a plumber for and 'inspection' and possibly getting 'new pipes' that have an 'insulator' on them so the water 'stays hot' between the tank and the faucets.

Answer 4

It takes a little while for the hot water to heat the pipes and then come out hot at the spot you want it to.

1. you may have signifigant scale buildup in the bottom of your water heater. Flush out your tank by emptying it using the spigot at the bottom of the tank (turn off the heater first and then shut off water supply while tank is draining)

2. "instant hot" refers to a little spigot on the kitchen sink that will give you hot water for tea or coffee.

3. if there is a "tankless hot water heater" installed it is likely that one or more of the heating elements has burnt out. It sounds like you would need a professional to check this.

4. also possible someone has turned down the heat setting on the hot water heater.

Answer 5

Chances are that your faucets are far from the water heater. The reason you have to wait so long is that all the water in the pipes between your heater & faucets has to come out first before it pulls any hot water from the heater.

You may have luck wrapping the water heater with insulation and insulating the pipes if you can get to any.

Answer 6

hi, Do you have an electric powered water heater or a gasoline one? in case you have a electric powered range, then you probable have an electric powered water heater. in spite of the undeniable fact that in case you have a gasoline range, then you probable have a gasoline water heater, and that form often does not have a topic holding up with the nice and snug long showers. What you are able to desire to could desire to do is administered a shower to shave, so the water will stay heat. 30 minute showers are no longer the traditional element, it does eat dissimilar potential. additionally in case you reside in snow us of a, then the water coming in would be chillier than different areas of the rustic, making for chillier water going into the tank. placing the temperature as much as approximately 135F will help. in spite of the undeniable fact that no rely if this is electrical powered, be very careful, and swap off the circuit breaker in the previous beginning up the water heater administration panel. no rely if this is a electric powered water heater, the decrease heating ingredient can circulate undesirable and the precise heating ingredient will save working, you will no longer be attentive to which you lost a million/2 of your heating potential, because of the fact most of the paintings is achieved by ability of the decrease ingredient, on an identical time as the better ingredient purely works once you have already used up a pair of million/2 of the tank of water, and the precise a million/2 starts off to kick back under 125F. After the water stops flowing, the better ingredient will warmth the precise a million/2 of the water heater tank to 135F and close off, allowing the decrease ingredient again on lower back. The decrease heating ingredient heats something of the tank, until each and every of the water is a hundred thirty five, then it shuts off until the 1st water is drawn lower back, then it comes on until the tank reaches a hundred thirty five, or the better ingredient comes on. I truly have replaced the heating factors on some electric powered water warmers. some have 4 bolts that carry them in, others use a a million-a million/2" socket to get rid of them. After shutting off the electricity, you may get rid of the decrease conceal and spot if the heating ingredient is chilly or heat. sturdy success!

Answer 7

It could be because it's a fairly small heater trying to warm up a large amount of water. It'll take time, but dont turn it up too high. You'll wake up boiling