Oh, Deerfield Beach, land of sun and surf, and—let's be honest—your sometimes cranky, temperamental water heater. Imagine this instead: It's an icy December morning (okay, not icy by most standards, but for Florida, kind of a big deal), and you're zeroing in on that oh-so-invigorating, just-this-side-of-steam shower, only to be met with the dregs of a makeshift hot-water supply. Is it an address on bouleversé street that you're more familiar with? And if your heating element isn't broken, might a vent that's not venting be the reason for insufficient hot water this morning? Or might the real problem be with your mise en place at the utility closet? Never fear: flannel-wrapped Florida friends! We've made it our mission to decode the reasons your dhobi won't serve up that characteristically scalding wash.
Here are some frequent issues you might encounter. Once in a while, it’s those confounded heating elements causing trouble; they degrade over time, leading to inconsistent water temperatures. Heard any banging noises, or does your heater rumble ominously in the night? That’s often sediment buildup doing a number on your tank’s interior, more common in hard water areas. Or maybe it’s your thermostat being a bit moody, swirling between hot and cold like a warm-blooded shopper in the midst of a retail therapy session. Each of these problems has a fix, though some of you might feel discouraged to even attempt to unfurl wires and elements. Despite my good nature, I’m not going to attempt to warm you with platitudes for why you should be brave. Instead, as a safety warning, know that professional help is just a call away. They could save you a lot of grief in the long run, and in the lost mornings you would be likely to grumble through your next shower.
Maybe you own one of those beauties that don't have a tank. Sleek and compact, they are fabulous in most respects but not without the odd quirk or two. For one thing, they can really suffer from mineral buildup, and because of how they're made, they're more prone to that than the traditional kind. Also, their sensors can be deceptive. If you have a remodelled bathroom, you may have gotten the old "need to re-level the floor" song and dance. You're the same person, in the same bathroom, but now you're under the watchful eyes of your heater's fancy new sensors. And they may not be as accurate as you're expecting. You're paying for that water, so make sure you're using it at the temperature and pressure that's right for you.
