Jan 03
anonymous asked:
I live in an apartment building. Each unit has a very compact water heater but every morning I wake up to shower and the hot water is gone after 1-2 minutes. That means in the middle of winter the I’m stuck showering in freezing cold water. I think this is just ridiculous that the apartment management has not supplied its residents with sufficient water heaters to supply hot water in the winter season. What should I do?
I live in an apartment building. Each unit has a very compact water heater but every morning I wake up to shower and the hot water is gone after 1-2 minutes. That means in the middle of winter the I’m stuck showering in freezing cold water. I think this is just ridiculous that the apartment management has not supplied its residents with sufficient water heaters to supply hot water in the winter season. What should I do?
5 Responses to “What is causing my water heater to not supply hot water?”
January 6th, 2009 at 5:41 pm
The bottom heating element is probably not working.
January 8th, 2009 at 6:10 pm
Sounds to me, like you need a new element. Either, that or a new and bigger tank……….Turn the water on and get wet, off, and lather up, and back on and rinse. Talk to the boss. Happy Thanksgiving!!!
January 9th, 2009 at 10:03 am
First off, as others have said, it is probably your heating element. Water has all sorts of minerals, and minerals accrete around the heating element making it harder and harder for the element to actually heat the water, resulting in a cooler and cooler water supply in the heater. If you look at the nozzles on your showerhead, you can probably see the mineralization.
Something you can do is to see how much actual hot water you really have. Using only the hot tap, start filling your bath tub. Is the water coming out around 145°F? How much hot do you have?
Second, if you live in the states, you do have rights. You will need to send a registered letter to your landlord, stating the problem. If after a reasonable amount of time it hasn’t been dealt with, you can then call your local housing authority (if they aren’t the right place to call, they will tell you who you do need to call). That should get the matter resolved - unless you have odd ordinances. Some places even say that you can with-hold rent until it is fixed.
And if it doesn’t get fixed, you can always move. I know it sucks, but freezing cold showers blow…
January 9th, 2009 at 10:46 pm
One of those small heaters should supply plenty of hot water for a shower. The little 110v water heaters only have one element, so you may need to look for another problem if you have any hot water at all. It is possible for the thermostat to go bad or even need adjustment if it has always been like that. Sometimes landlords leave the thermostat at a low setting to save electricity.
January 10th, 2009 at 3:12 pm
I guess you are allowing a little time for the water to fully heat up before you take your shower? If it is faulty
either you complain to whoever you pay your rent to or if that’s is not in the lease you might want to fix it yourself.
I just fitted a $75 instant water heater in one of the showers and I have as much water as I need.
If you can’t do it yourself, pay a little more to have one fitted.
Till then, go swimming at the end of the day and take a shower then. This way you get to sleep *while clean* instead of taking your dirt in bed each night.