Is your home’s water temperature kind of all over the place? Want to find out what’s causing the water temperature irregularity? POM Plumbing is here to help. Let’s check out some of the most common causes of water temperature irregularity.
Poor Pipe Insulation
One of the most common causes of water temperature irregularity is poor pipe insulation. This is especially common in older homes. If poor pipe insulation is the culprit in your case, you may notice that you have to turn the temperature hotter in the winter just to get a warm shower. Likewise, you may have to stop short of your usual heat in the summer or the water will come out near boiling!
When your pipes are poorly insulated, the temperature outside affects the temperature of your water excessively. The summer heat will heat up your pipes and the winter cold will freeze them. Because of that, you have to over or under-compensate when choosing how much water to let out from each tap. Some old pipes will need to be replaced entirely, as the weather’s effect on them is due to aging. Other pipes may just need to be insulated in the lower levels of the building to counteract temperatures in the crawl space or basement.
Old or Damaged Faucet Controls
Another reason for water temperature irregularity is if your faucet controls are damaged or aged. When you turn the knobs to your faucet, or adjust a handle, you’re actually opening up one or both of your water lines to allow them to put out water. If your hardware is old and faulty, it may not be consistent in its function.
For example, if you have a faucet with a single handle, if the part that unblocks the hot water line is loose, pulling it all the way up might not unblock the hot water all the way, meaning the water runs colder than it should. Replacing the hardware of the faucet may be exactly what the doctor ordered. Your water lines and pipes may have nothing to do with the problem.
Water Heater Problems
Finally, the third reason you may be struggling with water temperature irregularity is that your water heater may be struggling. An old water heater can begin to fail at its job. If your water’s temperature varies by the time, it might be that sometimes your water heater is doing its job and other times it’s struggling.
To figure out if your water heater is the culprit, keep a log for a few days of when it’s hotter or colder and see if there’s a pattern. If it’s hotter in the afternoon and colder at night, it’s more likely an insulation problem. However, if the temperature changes seem to be fairly sporadic, it’s more likely your hot water heater just being more or less effective at random times. If that’s the case, it’s time to call someone to check it out and probably replace it. Any water heater older than 8 years is likely to need replacement if it’s struggling.
If your water heater is on the newer side, it might be that your mixing valves just need adjusting. We can do that too.
Give us a call at POM Plumbing if any part of your plumbing needs service. We’re here to help!
