3 reasons you’re taking cold showers, and how to fix them

A hot shower is one of life’s simple pleasures. There’s nothing that feels better after a hard day or a strenuous workout than letting warm water rain down on your head, neck, and shoulders. You know what doesn’t feel fantastic? Waiting for that perfect temperature only to have ice-cold water come out of the showerhead. 

Unless you have a tankless water heater, the hot water for your shower comes from your water heater tank. With a tank, there are three possibilities for why you’re taking cold showers.

• It takes time for the water in the tank to heat up, generally about 30 minutes. If someone in another part of the house recently took a shower, did a load of laundry, or ran the dishwasher, they may have used all the available hot water. 
• If none of the faucets in your home are getting hot water, the problem is with the hot water tank. Several parts within the unit can deteriorate and break down over time, causing it to make insufficient amounts of hot water. 
• If your shower is the only one without hot water, the problem is most likely with either your anti-scald device or the mixing valve in your shower component. 
• Anti-scald devices are safety features that ensure the water stays at a safe temperature, so you don’t burn yourself. The higher the setting, the colder the water.
• The mixing valve controls the temperate of the water coming out of the showerhead by combining the hot and the cold. A broken or worn-out valve can cause improper mixing.

Are you ready to give a cold shower the cold shoulder? We can help. Contact Raider Rooter today. We’ve been helping South Florida maintain and manage its plumbing since 1978. So, let us put our expertise to work for you. As always, whether you’re after tips and tricks for frequent plumbing problems or more extensive plumbing insight, be sure to consult our blog for thorough and helpful information.