Why is My Home's Water Scalding Hot?

It’s time to take a nice, relaxing hot shower...  but what happens when the water is too hot. If your water is suddenly burning hot when you try to take a shower, there are several things that could be wrong. Let’s take a look at how to fix this problem.

• The water heater thermostat could be broken.  Since the thermostat controls the water heater’s output, it could be the reason your water is suddenly running hot. It’s possible the thermostat could be just set to the wrong temperature. So check that first and that could be the easy fix you need to get your water back to normal temperatures. If this isn’t the case, it could be broken. 
• There could be a potential issue with the pressure relief valve. The pressure relief valve is located somewhere near the top of your water heater, and it operates as a safety device. In the event that the water temperature or pressure gets too high in the water heater, it is designed to release water to help release the pressure inside the water tank. If this is malfunctioning, then the temperature can rise causing scalding hot water, potential flooding or a burst water heater. Test the pressure relief valve by flipping the switch on the side of the tank. If you hear a gurgling sound indicating pressure release, then the valve is working. If you don’t hear anything, or if you hear gushing water, rattling, or screeching sounds, call a plumber immediately for repair.
•  There could be a faulty heater element. If one of your two heating elements on your electric water heater (gas water heaters only have one) becomes damaged, then the shutoff function will stop working. Because of this the water will continue to heat up and cause overly hot water. If this is the case, you will need a licensed professional to come out and replace the broken elements.
• Mineral build-up could be the cause. If your home has hard water, then you can have potential mineral build-up on the heating element of the hot water tank. The high mineral content of hard water can leave crusty deposits that will cause your water tank to overheat. To combat this problem, flush your hot water tank (including tankless heaters) once a year. If there are large amounts of build-up, you may have to have your tank emptied and cleaned. You may also consider installing a water softener to help with your hard water deposits.

If you find yourself with the problem of scalding water, then give us a call today and we’ll help you get back into those relaxing, perfectly warm showers that you love!

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