We all know that dreaded feeling when you’re taking a nice hot shower, and then the water starts getting colder faster and faster so that by the time you’ve washed your conditioner out, you may as well be taking an ice bath. If you’re dealing with your hot water running out before you’re done using it, there could be a number of reasons behind this. Here are some of the culprits behind why you run out of hot water fast.

Sediment Buildup

Water naturally has minerals and other sediments in it, and over time, these minerals and sediments build up in your water heater, which can cause you to run out of hot water faster than you did before. This is because the buildup reduces the capacity of your water heater, which means that you have less hot water than you did without the buildup taking up that space. Cleaning out the sediment will make it so that your water heater has the room it did before.

The Water Heater Tank Is Too Small

Generally, different size households need water heaters with different size water tanks, in order to be able to meet the demands of how many people will require hot water. A household of two people won’t need as big a water heater tank as a family of five. If your household has grown in size, or you moved in somewhere where the previous owners didn’t have as many people, you may consider installing a bigger water tank.

Bad Heating Element

At the bottom of your water heater is the part that heats your water. The upper element of it takes cold water and directs it down to the bottom, where it then heats cold water to your desired temperature. If your heating element goes bad, this lowers the temperature of your water and greatly affects how much hot water you get. So, if you start out with hot water, but then it goes cold fast, it could be that the water isn’t getting heated anymore.

Multiple Appliances Running At The Same Time

If you’ve grown up with siblings, you probably purposely flushed the toilet or turned the faucet on in order to turn their shower cold, just to be a nuisance. This is a common reason why you run out of hot water fast, through running multiple appliances at once or having multiple faucets going at the same time. The hot water is trying to reach all of the appliances that need it, and because of this, it runs out faster than if only one was running at a time.

Issue With The Thermostat 

Your water heater comes equipped with a thermostat that tells it how hot to heat your water to. If your water heater’s thermostat is having problems, this impacts how hot your water gets, which could mean it never reaches the temperature it should. Resetting your thermostat or raising the temperature should help with your cold water issues.

The Dip Tube Is Broken

The dip tube is the part of the water heater that pushes cold water down to your heating element, so that it can get warmed up. If your dip tub is broken, this makes it so that cold water isn’t getting directed to the bottom of the tank to get heated up, but rather, stays at the top of the tank, ergo cooling water that has been heated and never getting heated itself. If your dip tube needs to be repaired or replaced, this is a surefire reason why you run out of hot water so fast.

The Water Heater Is Old

Water heaters don’t last forever. Generally, water heaters last around ten years. If your water heater is nearing the end of its life span, this could be why you run out of hot water so fast. If this is the case, the best fix is to replace your water heater. A new water heater will make it so that you don’t run out of hot water so very quickly.

Do You Run Out Of Hot Water Fast?

S & B Plumbing knows how important it is to have hot water in order to maintain a comfortable home environment. Especially in the colder months, you want your hot water to last as long as you need it running for. We can help you find out why your run out of hot water fast and either repair or replace your water heater. For any questions or for more information about our services, please contact us at S & B Plumbing today!

Your toilet isn’t something you pay much attention to – until it starts acting up. We typically don’t really notice how long our toilet takes to flush, because once it’s done that and refilled the bowl, only a minute or two have gone by. In other cases though, your toilet keeps running long past when it should have stopped. If your toilet keeps running, this is something that you should rectify immediately.

The constant sound of your toilet running can be annoying, but more than that, it can waste hundreds of gallons of water in a day, meaning that your water bills will skyrocket. If your toilet keeps running, you definitely don’t want to just ignore it, both for the sake of your peace of mind and your bank account’s. Here are some of the most common reasons why your toilet keeps running.

The Handle Is Stuck 

If your handle is stuck, this can cause your toilet to run when it doesn’t need to. Stuck handles are typically an easy fix, since they typically get stuck as a result of being too tight for your toilet. Loosening your handle so that it can move freely can cause your toilet to stop running. 

Worn Out Toilet Flapper

Your toilet flapper is what acts as a seal between the bowl of your toilet and your toilet’s tank. One of the most common reasons behind a toilet that won’t stop running is a flapper in need of replacing. Worn out flappers allow for water to constantly slip from your toilet’s tank into the bowl. Since the seal prevents that constant flow of water is worn out, this can result in an endless flow. Replacing your toilet flapper will resolve the issue.

The Refill Tube Needs To Be Shortened

The refill tube is the part of your toilet that flows from the toilet fill valve to the overflow tube. If your refill tube is too long, this can cause your toilet to keep running, since the water is constantly going from the tank to the overflow valve. Shortening the refill tube will prevent this constant flow of water.

Flapper Chain Needs Adjusting

Related to your flapper is the flapper chain, which is the chain that connects the flapper to the handle, telling it when to seal and when to open. If your flapper chain is too short, the flapper can’t seal, resulting in a toilet that keeps running. If it is too long, it can get stuck under the flapper. Adjusting the chain can make it so that it runs as it should.

The Float Is Too High

The float is the part of your toilet that affects when the water flow in your toilet stops, by signalling that the water levels in the tank of your toilet have reached the designated height. However, if the float is set too high, this causes your toilet to keep running, because the water hits the overflow tube before it can hit the float.

The Float Valve Is Broken

A broken float valve is one that allows for water to leak, which is another potential reason why your toilet keeps running. Replacing the valve should resolve the issue, as you are repairing the part of the toilet that allowed for water to escape.

The Overflow Pipe Is Cracked

Though this is one of the less common reasons for a toilet that runs continuously, sometimes the overflow pipe cracks. This results in leakage, like when the float valve breaks, and makes it so that water constantly leaks from the overflow tube into the bowl. 

How To Fix A Toilet That Won’t Stop Running

Above, we’re listed some of the ways that you can resolve each of these problems. In most cases, fixing a toilet that won’t stop running is easy, either through replacing the flapper, adjusting the chain, shortening the tube, or having other parts replaced. Though typically, this is a job that you can resolve yourself, having a professional plumber come out to take a look at it will ensure that you both have solved the problem and that it is fixed properly.

Do You Need Help With A Toilet That Keeps Running?

S & B Plumbing knows how much your water bills can be affected by a toilet that won’t stop running. We can help you diagnose the source of the issue as well as fix it, so that you can return to a quiet home and one with normal water bills. For any questions about our toilet repair service or any other services we can offer you, please contact us at S & B Plumbing today!