Distance: The farther away your hot water heater is from the faucet or shower where you want hot water to flow, the longer it will take to get there. A low volume restrictor: You may have a low volume restrictor installed on fixtures, like your shower, which can delay the delivery of water.
Your water heater may also be on its last legs — sediment buildup, burnt out heating elements, rust, and a faulty thermostat may be the cause.
If your hot water tap is running slow, it's likely you either have low water pressure or low water flow rate caused by a blockage of some kind in your hot water supply.
If you're wondering why it takes forever for hot water to reach your taps, more often than not, it comes down to the distance between your heater and the tap or outlet. Simply put, the longer the pipes, the more cold water has to be pushed out before you get any hot water.
If the thermostat is set too low, the water won't heat adequately. Conversely, if it's malfunctioning, it may not signal the heater to turn on at the correct temperature, leading to lukewarm water or significant delays in heating. Water heaters are prone to sediment accumulation, especially in areas with hard water.
Try turning the temperature up first. You may also want to clean your water heater. Turn off the water heater and drain it. Draining the tank and flushing it with cold water can remove a lot of the sediment buildup and fix your slow hot water problems.
Sediment buildup in the tank
While the water sits in and is heated by your water heater, this debris settles to the bottom of the tank. Many water heater burners are on the bottom of the tank. So, this buildup of debris can make your water heater less effective at heating your water, leading to lukewarm water.
The reasons can range from the size and capacity of the heater, the distance between the heater and tap, to mineral buildup and low gas pressure.
How long does it take for hot water to return? Typically, a water heater tank takes 30 to 40 minutes to heat up so if your water heater is still working, you can count on having more hot water come back in that amount of time as long as your system is still working adequately.
Most homeowners should flush their water heaters every 6 months or so, but if you have extremely hard water, you may want to do it more often. Flushing your hot water heater could be necessary as often as every few months depending on the mineral content of your local water supply.
Sometimes, a shower that takes forever to heat up is due to the distance between the shower and the water heater. Basically, when your water heater is far from your shower, the hot water will take longer to run through your pipes and reach your shower head. Wider than normal pipes can also slow down your hot water.
Here are some common heat up times for different water heaters, assuming the appliances are new and properly sized for the home: Electric storage tank water heater: 60–80 minutes. Propane storage tank water heater: 30–40 minutes. Propane tankless water heater: 0 minutes.
After you've drained your hot water tank, you can pour a gallon or so of vinegar through it. To ensure the tank gets a thorough soak (try for 6 hours), close the drain valve before introducing the vinegar. Before you restore power to the unit, flush all the vinegar out. Keep it at the right temperature.
Find the access panel for the thermostat(s) and use a screwdriver to remove the panel. Peel back the insulation. Use a flathead screwdriver to adjust the thermostat up or down. If your water heater has two thermostats, adjust both the same amount.
The most common reason for delayed hot water is your faucet's distance from the water heater. If a single water heater supplies all the hot water for your home, the faucets that are furthest from your heater will naturally take longer to warm up.
Water heaters show several signs of going bad, including lack of hot water, temperature fluctuations, decreased water pressure, strange noises, rotten egg smell, visible leaks, rusty or discolored water, and increased energy bills. If your water heater is over 10 years old, it may be time to consider a replacement.
Over time, sediment can build up in the bottom of the tank, where the burner usually is. This can lead to slower heating or poor efficiency in your water heater, meaning lukewarm water rather than hot water. The solution for this is to drain the tank and to use a water softener.
If a heating element has failed, then the hot water heater won't be able to effectively heat the water, resulting in lukewarm water throughout the home. Contact a plumber or a hot water heater technician to repair or replace the heating elements and restore hot water to the home.
Flushing the Pipes. Attach a hose to one of the faucets or an outdoor tap, ensuring the other end is positioned in a drain or outside where water can flow freely. Open the faucet and let water flow through the pipes for a few minutes. This helps flush out loose sediment and debris, improving water flow.
You can reduce your wait time for hot water in several ways. The first step is to insulate all your hot-water pipes. The second step is to reduce the diameter of the pipe from the water heater to the fixture. Compared to the time it takes hot water to arrive in 3⁄8-in.
In the case of hot water taking too long to get to the tap, the primary problem is the volume of water in the pipes. Reducing that volume with shorter, smaller pipes is the best way to go. If that still doesn't get your wait time down enough, use a demand hot water recirculation system.
While today's water heaters are better designed than older models, they still require regular maintenance in order to prolong their lives. With regular inspection, draining, and flushing, you can expect a gas water heater to last anywhere from 8-12 years and an electric water heater to last anywhere from 10-15 years.