Determining how much hot water your water heater should provide per shower depends largely on the size of your hot water tank. For instance, a typical shower uses about 10 gallons of hot water. So, if you have a 40-gallon hot water tank, you should be able to get four average-length showers out of your hot water tank.
This also depends on how much hot water you use for other things. For instance, so you run your dishwasher with hot water shortly before you shower? How about your laundry? And consider how often people in your home use the hot water for washing their hands. All these things deplete your overall hot water supply, which means the hot water you’ll be able to use for your showers is significantly less.
If, however, you’ve noticed a significant drop in the amount of hot water available for your showers, then you may have an issue with your water heater or furnace. Our team at Plumbing by Jake can take a look to see what we can do about restoring your hot water to what it once was. Call us at (928) 377-5910.
When to Replace the Water Heater Tank
As families grow, we sometimes forget that the resources necessary to keep our families happy and comfortable grow too. So if you have a household consisting of just two people, you can do just fine with a water heater that can hold between 23 and 36 gallons of hot water.
More people, however, need more hot water. And so, bump the number of people in the household up to three or four, and now you need between 36 to 46 gallons of hot water. In that case, you need to look at potentially upgrading your hot water tank to accommodate the growing needs of your family.
Plumbing by Jake not only has extensive experience in repairing water heaters, but we can also help you select a hot water tank that is appropriate for the needs of your home. Give us a call at (928) 377-5910 for more information.
When to Replace the Entire Water Heater
If you’ve only recently noticed a dip in how much hot water is available for showers in your home, then the issue may be that your water heater is too old. Once a water heater reaches the age of 10 years old, its efficiency drops considerably, and they can no longer heat water as well as they once did.
If the time has come and you need to replace your water heater, Plumbing by Jake can help. We know which make and model of water heater to suggest that will provide you with the quantity of hot water you need for everyone in your home.
Check for Other Problems
If your hot water supply has been fine up until now, and you’re not sure why you suddenly have less hot water for showers, then it’s important to pay attention to signs for any issues with your plumbing or hot water supply.
For instance, do you notice a rotten egg smell coming from your gas water heater? This may mean that you have a problematic aluminum rod. It can also signal a gas leak, and this is a major problem. Call a professional right away if you smell sulfur to prevent the possibility of a house fire.
If you notice your water coming out in fits and spurts, there may be a clog somewhere in your water heater. Our team at Plumbing by Jake can check this out for you. Similarly, give us a call if you notice popping or cracking sounds coming from your heater, which can indicate a sediment buildup, or mold or puddles near your heater, as these are signs of a leak.
Not everything is a dire emergency, though. The problem could lie with something as simple as the temperature on the water heater’s thermostat being not quite right. Sometimes a thermostat will fail or break down, and you just need a simple repair to get your water heater running at full power again.
Having Trouble with Your Water Heater? Call Plumbing By Jake Today!
If your water heater just isn’t getting the job done the way it used to, then it may require a simple repair, or possibly even a full-on replacement. Either way, our experienced team at Plumbing by Jake can help.
Give us a call at (928) 377-5910, or submit your information to us via our website in the event of a non-emergency. We will work with you to schedule a visit that is most accommodating to your schedule. Give us a call today, and get back to enjoying those long showers again!
