No Hot Water After Freezing Weather

There are many things to cross off your winter maintenance list for your home’s appliances. Your water heater is the single most crucial appliance in your house. The last thing you want to do when it’s frigid outdoors is step into a chillingly cold shower.

In the fall and winter, frequent plumbing problems might hinder the water heater’s performance – “no hot water after freezing weather” is one of them. The pipes are prone to freezing when the outside temperature drops below freezing.

If this occurs, water can leak out of the lines or burst when they expand too much. This will not only cause a severe problem with your plumbing but also put extra strain on your water heater.

This whole situation seems terrible and could dent the holiday joy. Fortunately, there are warning signals you can look out for to identify potential problems with your water heater before they become disastrous.

This article will walk you through the topic, “no hot water after freezing weather;” common signs, causes, and solutions, so keep reading.

Table of Contents

Common Signs That You Have Hot Water Heater Issues

1. Leaky Pipes and Water Spots

Occasionally, a water heater with leaky pipes has a simple fix, especially if the device is new. Sometimes, valves become loose or malfunction, which you may fix with the help of a qualified plumber.

However, replacing your water heater is usually in your future if it is dripping and leaving wet spots. When the outside temperature drops, intake pipes frequently burst and must be replaced.

2. Drastic Increase in Energy Bills

In subzero temperatures, maintaining hot water can be challenging. The water heater may not keep the water as hot as you’d like if you notice a significant spike in your power bill throughout the winter. Heat is continuously lost to the environment, placing a strain on tank-style heaters, which keep hot water until needed.

The heating device goes on and uses more energy to reheat the water as it cools. Insulation is essential in this situation; a jacket of insulation and pipe insulation will keep the water warm in the tank and circulate through the supply pipes.

3. Rusty Appliances

Rust can be difficult to eliminate in water heaters, particularly as they age. Older water heaters can have rusty tanks or intake pipes, leading to additional problems like leaks and drips. Rust is a symptom that an appliance needs to be replaced.

4. Banging and Knocking

Although loud noises don’t always indicate a problem with the water heater, repairs may be necessary if they are unusually loud or louder than usual. The intake valves may need to be adjusted, and sediment may need to be cleaned out of the tank.

You can also avoid frozen pipes by ensuring warm air can flow around the heater. Frozen pipes produce “popping” noises before they burst.

5. Inconsistency

There is an issue with your heater if you start taking lukewarm baths or run out of hot water while doing the dishes. Increasing the thermostat’s setting may be all needed to solve the problem, but at other times the issue may be more significant.

The appliance may need to be replaced, or you may need a professional plumber to drain the tank. They will also remove any accumulated silt preventing the device from producing enough hot water.

Common Causes

Your shower’s frozen water could result from a few different issues. The location of your hot water tank, the quality of the pipes connecting it, and the tank’s health are all potential causes. Your hot water problems may have multiple reasons, including those listed below.

1. The Basement or Garage

Some areas of the house don’t get as hot as others. The temperature outside is typically warmer than in a basement or garage.

It will get colder sooner if you don’t use your hot water tank often enough. The result is increased heat loss from standing. If you turn off your heater and let it get cold, it may take longer and use more energy to get it back up to temperature. In the cold, heaters have to work harder.

2. Pipes Overtly Exposed

The difficulties with plumbing and the availability of hot water vary with the seasons. Your pipes are more likely to burst due to water freezing as temperatures drop below freezing throughout the winter. Do they go out or stay inside?

The hot water in the house travels through a complex network of pipes, and the hot water tank has a limit of so much to keep up. The water gets colder and colder as it travels through your pipes if your lines are old or subjected to the weather.

3. Broken and Cracked Pipes and Boiler

Pressure is applied to pipes when it is too cold outside, which is another essential fact to remember. The resulting increase in pressure can cause a line to crack or burst. If it happens, you can expect a glacier deluge in your house, not simply cold water.

Solutions to Your Water Heating Problem

There are some approaches you can take to address this issue. If you know what to look for, you can get it operating again by making a straightforward adjustment. You may make things easier by consulting a professional plumber.

Here are some simple steps before calling a professional plumber.

Insulate the Exposed Pipes: Wrapping the exposed pipes in plastic, using foam insulation tubes, or using fabric could save you the frustration of having to do with cold water.
Allow the Faucet to Drip: This will stop the frozen pipe from expanding and allow water that has become trapped to travel freely again.
Cover the Hot Water Heater: This will assist in maintaining the insulation of the water heater and keeping it protected from the chilly weather. As an added precaution, cover any bare pipes with insulation to extend the life of your water heater.
Reset Thermostat levels: Adjusting the temperature on your water heater’s thermostat will stop it from producing hot water. Therefore, bring it back to the appropriate temperature levels to perform correctly.
Clean The Gutters And Drainage System: Cleaning the drains will stop water from collecting around the water heater. Water heaters are protected from obstructions and other water damage that could otherwise disrupt their operation.
Repair All Air Leaks Around Your Windows and Doors: This helps keep the chill out of your house. It will maintain a steady temperature in the house and lessen the likelihood of the heater freezing up.
Inspect Your Plumbing: If you have an issue with your plumbing, you should inspect the entire system. Possible causes include obstructions, blockages, or leaking.
Check Your Water Heater: This could be useful in determining what’s causing the heat to be off. The process involves repairing worn components, inspecting pipelines, and checking the thermostat.

Why Is Your Hot Water Not Operating Whenever It’s Cold Outside?

One of the causes could be the thermostat being set too low; the water heater could have operated for more than ten years.

Unlike less-frequently used appliances like washing machines or dishwashers, the water heater in your house is utilized repeatedly each day. This equipment is indispensable for everyday household chores like cleaning, taking showers, doing laundry, and washing hands.

Considering how often you all use the water heater, issues are to be expected. Fortunately, tank-style water heaters are designed so that they require a few moving parts. Sometimes, you might not even need to call a professional to fix a problem with the heater.

What Do You Do When Your Hot Water Pipes Freeze?

Here are a few tips for you:

Just leave the water running. Water will trickle down the frozen part as you thaw the pipe. If ice is inside the line, water flowing through it will help melt it.
Wrap the pipe in linens soaked in hot water, and use an electric hair dryer or a mobile space heater to apply heat to the affected area. Don’t use anything that generates an open flame, like a kerosene, blowtorch, charcoal burner, or other flammable material.
Turn up the heat till the water pressure is back to normal. Call a professional plumber if you cannot identify the frozen spot, reach the frozen location, or thaw the pipe.
The best way to tell if you have frozen pipes elsewhere in your home is to turn on every other faucet and see if they drip. If one pipe freezes, they all will.

Related Post: Cold Water Frozen But Not Hot

How Do I Reset My Hot Water Heater?

If the water temperature in your heater rises to a dangerous level, the water heater will shut off automatically thanks to a safety feature called an emergency limit switch. It typically activates at water temperatures above 180 degrees. This will prevent you from being scalded by a power outage or other technical problems with your thermostat.

This is analogous to when you overload your home’s electrical system, and the circuit breaker shuts off your toaster or vacuum cleaner. The water heater’s built-in safety feature can also turn it off if the temperature inside gets dangerous.

No Hot Water After Freezing Weather