Why is hot water not coming out of the shower?

Author: Trisha Marquardt  |  Last update: Thursday, September 11, 2025

First, find the shut off valve for the hot water and see if it's closed. If so, opening the valve could remedy the situation. But if the water still remains warm for only short periods of time, you may have a blockage or obstruction in the pipes or a problem with your bathroom shower valve.

Why is my hot water in the shower not working?

If you're experiencing no hot water in your shower but have hot water in your sinks, it's likely that the issue is localised to your shower system. In this case, the potential causes can include a malfunctioning shower mixing valve, improperly set anti-scald device settings, or cross-connected pipes.

Why would only my shower not have hot water?

A blockage in pipe or a damaged valve can be the reason behind shower losing hot water. In case you are not getting hot water in any area of your room like kitchen and other sinks then check the valve of your water heater. If you find it damaged, try to make it repair to avoid your water relevant problems.

Why is there no water coming out of my hot tap shower?

Again, check out the hot water taps in the house and if the hot water pressure is fine to those taps, it will the washers in the hot tap of the shower that will need to be replaced. If the hot water to every tap is reduced in pressure, get a plumber out to check your hot water unit and test the tempering valve.

Why is my hot water not coming out but my cold water is?

Possible Issue: One of the most common culprits for this predicament is a malfunctioning differential valve. This valve is responsible for controlling the flow of hot and cold water in your plumbing system. When it's not functioning correctly, it can lead to an imbalanced water supply, leaving you with cold water only.

How To Fix No Hot Water From Shower In Under 5 Minutes

Why would hot water suddenly stop working?

Your hot water may not work for several reasons, from simple issues such as a tripped circuit breaker or a malfunctioning thermostat. Sometimes it's more complex problems such as a broken heating element in the water storage tank or a faulty water heater.

How to unclog a hot water line?

Clearing The Blockage
  1. Step 1: Shut off the water supply. ...
  2. Step 2 Drain the system. ...
  3. Step 3: Find the blockage. ...
  4. Step 4 Clearing minor blockages. ...
  5. Step 5: Disassemble the pipes. ...
  6. Step 6: Clean the pipes. ...
  7. Step 7: Reassemble the pipes. ...
  8. Step 8: Flush the system.

How to fix hot water not working?

Tips On How To Fix A Hot Water System
  1. Check the thermostat settings. ...
  2. Check the pressure valve. ...
  3. Replace the damaged parts. ...
  4. Change your water pressure regulator. ...
  5. Keep the inside clean. ...
  6. Check that the drain valve is open.
  7. Keep your water tank clean and full. ...
  8. Clogged or evaporative activated faucet.

Can a hot water tank get air locked?

If air gets trapped in your central heating or hot water system, this can stop hot water from circulating, causing radiators to stop heating up and hot water taps to stop running. Getting the hot water flowing again requires releasing the air out of the system.

Why is hot water not coming out of my bathroom faucet?

A likely explanation is that your faucet might be clogged. Over time, mineral deposits build up inside the plumbing fixtures after repeated use. This blockage doesn't allow the hot water to flow correctly. The problem becomes more prominent when combined with other plumbing issues, such as low water pressure.

Why is there no water coming out of the hot water side of my faucet?

Usually there are two main causes: The water is sputtering out of the faucet, possibly because an airlock has been created that is preventing the hot water from flowing out of the tap, or there is a problem with your water heater.

How to tell if a shower valve is bad?

The most obvious indication that plumbing repair is needed to fix a malfunctioning shower valve is when the knob is harder to turn or will not turn at all. This problem is a sign that the valve is either out of alignment, preventing it from functioning correctly, or something is broken.

How long does it take for hot water to come back?

When you use up all of the hot water in a traditional water heater, you will often need to wait anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours or more for the water in the tank to reheat. This is why many people opt to switch to tankless water heaters.

Why am I getting hot water everywhere but the shower?

So, what's the deal? Well, if you're getting hot water everywhere else in the house but the shower, you most likely have one of these 2 issues: Your anti-scald device is set too high. Your shower mixer valve went bad.

How to check if a hot water heater is working?

The easiest way to tell if your water heater is working is to open a faucet and see if you have hot water. Keep in mind that if you've just installed a brand new water heater, it will take some time for the tank to fill and heat up.

Why is my shower not working but my taps are?

A Faulty Shower Valve

A shower not working properly can be due to a broken shower valve or valve cartridge. Shower valves, after all, control both the flow and temperature of water in the shower. This is the component of your shower responsible for mixing hot and cold water.

What are the symptoms of hot water airlock?

Poor or loss of heating performance from the radiators in general (airlock in the pump) Cold spots on an otherwise functioning radiator (trapped air in the radiator) Tapping or banging sounds from your heating system (trapped air in the system) Lower than normal boiler pressure (may occur after bleeding radiators)

How do you unblock a hot water system?

Make sure you achieve a good seal to prevent pressure from escaping. Turn on the hot water for a few seconds, then the cold water, and keep both on for about a minute. Now, turn off the cold water then the hot water tap. Water will fill up inside the hose and pressure should build up to break the airlock.

Will an airlock clear itself?

It is quite rare for an airlock in a boiler to clear itself, so it is essential that the issue is addressed as soon as possible. If it goes untreated, airlocks can cause serious damage to your boiler.

How to fix no hot water in shower?

First, find the shut off valve for the hot water and see if it's closed. If so, opening the valve could remedy the situation. But if the water still remains warm for only short periods of time, you may have a blockage or obstruction in the pipes or a problem with your bathroom shower valve.

Why would I suddenly have no hot water?

If you suddenly run out of warm water, your water heater is the first place to check. However, the root cause of the problem might be an electrical problem, a gas issue, or the hot water system itself.

Who to call if hot water isn't working?

But for the most part, you should call a licensed plumber for all hot water heater problems.

Why is hot water not coming out of my faucet?

The lack of hot water can often be resolved by looking for loose connections to the water heater and resetting any fuses in the circuit breaker box that may have tripped, causing the water heater to not work.

How do you flush a hot water supply line?

Begin the flushing procedure by opening the hot water taps in your bathroom(s). Open ALL hot water sink fixtures, hot water bathtub or shower fixtures. Next, open all other hot water fixtures, such as in kitchens, wet bars, etc. Run all of these hot water fixtures for 15 minutes, then shut the water off.

How can I unfreeze my hot water line?

Here's a quick lesson on how to thaw a frozen pipe.
  1. Turn on the faucet. Keep it running. ...
  2. Apply heat to the frozen area. Slowly apply heat using a hair dryer. ...
  3. Continue to apply heat. Don't stop heating until the full water pressure is restored. ...
  4. Check all faucets and prevent pipes from freezing in the future.

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