Mr Fit It Plumbing
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Mr Fix It Plumbing – The Long Beach Plumber
Answers the Question "Why does my shower suddenly turn cold?"
Caught in a Freezing Shower? Have you ever started a nice, hot shower only to receive a cold blast of water half way through?
If your water never really turns warm, chances are your hot water heater needs time to heat up the water, especially if you have been doing other things like washing clothes or running the dishwasher. On the other hand, if that chilly shower takes place in the midst of a warm shower start, you may have some problems with the warm water heater or plumbing. Contemplate these options before you hire a expert.
1. Diagnosing a possible water heater difficulty – You will want to go throughout your residence, testing the hot water fixtures to see whether or not your chilly shower was an isolated event or is widespread throughout the whole home. If you are not getting any warm water, your water heater is the probable culprit.
First, check the temperature setting on your hot water heater. If all is fine, the next thing to consider is whether a fuse has been blown or tripped if you rely on electrical energy to heat your water. A fuse can be easily replaced. If you have gas, ensure to see if the pilot light went out. If it is, you can easily relight it, following the information in the manufacturer’s manual.
If fixing the temperature setting, fuse or pilot light does not resolve your problem, odds are you may have a variety of other problems such as a defective thermocouple, flue obstructions, sediment buildup on the heating element, or even a defective temperature control.
2. When it is an isolated shower problem – If the other fixtures in your home supply warm water and stays hot for a length of time, your shower is an isolated problem. There are a number of problems why your shower loses hot water. If you have old galvanized metal pipes, they may be corroded and need replacing. In addition, you should ensure the shut-off valve for the hot water to your shower. If it is closed or partially closed, open it and test the shower for hot water. However, if you only receive lukewarm water or start getting chilly water, you could have a shower valve problem.
3. Diagnosing a shower valve problem – Occasionally, shower valves become worn down with time, the rubber parts disintegrating or swelling with age. As this occurs, the rubber parts block the path for flowing water. This blockage frequently takes place with the shower valves as heat makes the rubber swell. From time to time, the rubber parts break apart and travel to the hot water valve to the shower, producing a blockage. If you feel confident about taking apart the valve, you can clean out the broken pieces in the hot water valve and then return the rubber in the shower valve. Keep in mind that most shower valves are located within the wall and may only be reachable by a hidden panel in a closet in the next room or a cabinet in the bathroom.
If you are in the least bit hesitant about replacing a blown fuse, relighting a pilot light, changing a hot water heater part or clearing an obstruction from the shower valve, it is best to talk to with a plumbing expert. What is better – paying for a plumber to fix it right the first time or waste money by cause even worse plumbing problems and end up paying more for a plumber’s time.
