No Hot Water
This is the most common issue people find with their water heater, especially because it gets in the way of what we need from our water heater in the first place!
If your heater is electric, check your breaker and all electrical connections to make sure the unit wasn’t turned off. If it was, follow the manufacturer’s instructions to turn the unit back on. For gas units, check the pilot light. You may need to relight it to get the heater going again.
A non-mechanical issue may be that your unit is not properly sized for your home, or that you’ve used too much hot water at once. You may have had the dishwasher, washing machine, and shower on at once, all of which can drain your water heater quickly. If this happens often, you may want to upgrade to a larger unit.
Weak Water Pressure
While you can have overall weak pressure throughout your home, specific low hot water pressure could indicate an issue with your water heater. A common cause of low pressure is mineral buildup in your unit. When you have hard water, minerals within the water get left behind and react with whatever container they may be in (pipes, faucet, water heater).
This buildup can actually cause blockages in your pipes, leading to reduced water pressure. Try cleaning out your faucet first, then call a professional to see if your heater is exhibiting hard water signs.
