No Water Coming Out Of Hot Water Side Of Faucet: Reasons & Fixes

During these cold months, a relaxing warm bath can be a perfect relief. Getting into a warm bath can be what gets you out of bed, and it can be what helps you sleep better during the frosty nights.

When a long warm hug is something you have been looking forward to all day, it can put you in the worst mood to find that something is wrong with the heating and there’s no hot water. We don’t think about it too much in the summertime but when it happens in the colder months, it can become a real issue.

Why No Water Comes Out of the Hot Water Faucet

There could be multiple reasons why you’re not getting any hot water. To help you figure out where the problem lies, we have compiled a list of issues you might want to check on before you rush to call the plumber.

Your problem could be one of these, or a combination of these depending on how old your pipes are. If you do locate a problem, we recommend you continue giving your water systems a thorough check, just so that you can deal with all issues at once and make sure your water is running in perfect shape from here on out.

No Power

This one is easy. Maybe there is a power cut. If your heating system relies on electricity and your area is experiencing a power cut, you won’t get any hot water. It sounds blatantly obvious, but here’s why some people might miss it.

Most of us that live in urban areas now have inverters. We arrange it so that some lights and basic necessities continue to be powered on even during cuts. For instance, your lights and WiFi might work, but the air conditioner and water heater might not, as they require more voltage to function.

Thermostat Settings

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If multiple people use the same shower, it’s possible someone went in before you but preferred a cold shower. Maybe someone set the thermostat at a lower temperature, and you simply forgot to adjust the settings.

Boiler Settings

If you experienced a power cut a while ago and your hot water problem has persisted since then, there are a few things you need to check for.

First, check the boiler settings. Often after a power cut, boilers are designed to go back to their default settings. Maybe these default settings mean that the water doesn’t heat up the way you like and comes out of a different faucet.

Next, check the fuse. If you experienced a power cut, it is also possible there were extreme voltage fluctuations. Check if the fuse has blown. If it has, you will have to replace it in order for the boiler to work and heat up your water for you.

Boiler Wire Damage

Maybe there’s no power outage and your boiler also works fine. But if you’ve got an electric geyser, the problem could be that the wires supplying the geyser are damaged. Could be due to overheating or exposure to moisture. If you suspect this to be the case, call a professional right away. You don’t want to risk getting electrocuted or burnt.

Air Bubbles in the Pipe

If you have got an airlock in the pipe, this can result in partial or total water blockage. You might get little spouts of water rather than an easy, smooth flow. To fix this issue, attach a hosepipe from the cold water faucet to the hot water faucet. Turn on the hot water tap completely. The high pressure created between the two faucets removes the air bubble.

Rust buildup

Rust build-up can also partially or fully block the hot water passage. If you can see any rust build-up on the outside, there’s a good chance that there’s rust on the inside too. Since hot water flows through the piping and the metal is continually exposed to air and water, the chances of rusting are higher than in cold water systems.

Leaky Pipe

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This is another one that is an obvious possibility. If there is a leak somewhere in the piping for your hot water system, this can reduce and even completely stop the water pressure. If you’ve got old installations, this is a possibility.

Frozen Pipe

If winter has just set in and you’re reaching for the hot water faucet for the first time in months, you might have frozen pipes. From not being used and slowly freezing over, your hot water faucet might be running no water because the frozen water somewhere in the piping is creating a block.

To unfreeze the pipe, try using a hair drying or a heat blower. If there are hot water taps in the house you don’t regularly use, make sure you run them just once a week to make sure they’re all in working condition and have not frozen over. If the frost sets in and increases, it can become more difficult to deal with.

Faulty Installation

This is more common than you think. Hot water from the boiler might not be reaching the right faucet. Maybe it is going to another faucet or is getting lost in a mess of old plumbings or some common faults in boilers.

If the installations were done unprofessionally, or if you had a plumbing problem and asked someone to fix it, they might have done something wrong. If you don’t have a lot of plumbing knowledge like most of us, you will have to ask a professional plumber to come in and check all the installations and fixtures.

We recommend you don’t go probing yourself, or you might cause more problems than you resolve!

A Water Valve That’s Turned Off

It sounds unmistakable but it is possible you missed it. Perhaps the main switch that fills up the tank for your house, building, or land has been turned off. If it is only the hot water faucet that seems to not run water but the cold water faucet works fine, check to see if there are two separate systems for hot and cold water.

The water valve for the hot water system could be turned off, which means that although the water is being heated, it is just not coming to you.

Some Checks to Carry Out Before Jumping to Action

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Here are some steps you can take before you call in a professional to help you out. With these, you will get a better idea of where the problem lies.

Check your other Taps

Are all the hot water faucets in the other taps of your home not working properly? If it is only one particular tap, there’s a problem with the plumbing of that tap only. Then check, is the cold water faucet of that tap working? If it is not, you know it’s a joint problem. If it is, then you know the problem is specific to the hot water system of that particular tap.

If all the hot water taps are not working for your entire home, you know it’s a central issue. Figuring out where the problems are and where they are not will help you localize the issue better.

Check with your Neighbors

First check with your neighbors. Are they facing the same problem? If they are, it could be a problem with your entire area. If their hot water is coming in fine, the problem is closer to you.

It is also possible that they faced a similar issue but were able to work it out. Maybe it was an issue that could be resolved without professional help. If that is the case, checking in with your neighbors could also solve the issue you are having.

Check with the Municipal Corporation

Maybe your town is working on a water issue. Keep yourself updated on when you should expect such issues so that you are able to prepare in advance.

Check the Water Pressure in your Boiler

For boilers to function properly, a specific level of water pressure must be maintained. If the water pressure in your boiler is lower than needed, hot water will not be pumped through your faucets. This may be because of a leak or internal damage. Opening up the boiler can be risky, so it’s safer to consult a professional.

When Should You Call a Plumber?

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Even though the solutions to most problems are a Google search away, there’s a reason people specialize in a technical task. It’s better to call in a professional and tell them what you think the problem might be rather than trying to fix it yourself.

Conclusion

It can be quite frustrating to not have access to hot water, especially during winters. While there are temporary options like heating water over the stove, you would want the problem fixed before winter truly sets in, or it will be an extra chore on a gloomy winter day.

With these ideas, you can begin to figure out what needs fixing so you can take warm, relaxing, soul-touching baths again.