Does cold weather affect my water heater?

We don’t struggle much with cold weather in the Phoenix area compared to some other states, but does colder weather affect your water heater?

How cold weather affects your water heater

Your water heater works harder in the colder months for two reasons.

1. The water temperature coming into your home is significantly reduced in the wintertime. This reduction puts more strain on your water heater to perform.
2. We use more hot water in the wintertime than we do in the summertime. This increase in usage puts more strain on your water heater due to additional use.

Signs your water heater is working too hard in the winter

We can usually tell right away if our water heater isn’t working the way we’re accustomed to. Here are some signs that your water heater may need service.

1. Not enough hot water
2. The water isn’t as hot as you’d like it to be
3. Signs of leaking around the water heater
4. Higher energy bills
5. The water heater is making noises
6. It takes longer to get hot water than it used to

Not enough hot water can mean there is a bad part in the water heater. It could even mean that the hot water is going somewhere else due to a leak on the hot line from freezing pipes. The water not being hot enough can often be an adjustment setting. It can also be a sign that there is a bad component on the water heater. Do you see signs of leaking around the water heater? This is a clear indication that the water heater may need a replacement.

High energy bills can be from using the water heater more than normal and its increased usage of energy due to the colder weather but it is important if it is more usage than the previous year to check out your water heater and make sure it is performing correctly. Water heaters making noise may be a sign of bad components in the water heater that need to be replaced.

What can you do if your water heater is affected by the cold weather

The first thing we recommend is to check the temperature setting on your water heater. Many homes in Arizona have their water heater set to lower temperatures in the summer. Often, a simple adjustment to your water heater temperature setting would resolve the issue of your water not being hot enough. If that doesn’t solve the issue, it may be time to have a professional come out. A professional plumbing technician can run a diagnostics test on your water heater. This test will check for components that may not be operating correctly.

Things to consider before investing money into an older water heater

If your water heater isn’t performing properly, some things to think about before putting money into an older water heater vs buying a new one.

1. The Age of the water heater–water heaters don’t last forever, and it may be time to replace it vs repair it before it starts leaking.
2. The maintenance history for your water heater. If you’ve never properly maintained your water heater each year, it is worth considering replacing your unit rather than trying to repair it. Water heaters require annual maintenance and flushing for optimal performance.
3. Are you getting enough hot water for your needs? If you’re already not getting enough hot water due to lack of gallon capacity it may be time to consider an upgrade to a larger heater or a tankless unit rather than putting money into an older heater that doesn’t measure up.
4. You’re using a lot of energy to heat your water. Older water heaters lack the efficiency of new models making them more costly to operate. Converting to a tankless or a hybrid water heater can be a big step toward lowering energy bills and having a better water heater experience.

Services in Phoenix & Beyond

When you find yourself in need of water heater repair and replacement services in the Phoenix metropolitan area, call a Robin! You can trust Robins Plumbing to provide you with a higher level of service! In addition to our plumbing services, we also offer a variety of residential and commercial plumbing services. Contact us if you need help with drain cleaning, water heater repair and replacement, sewer camera inspection and locating, backflow prevention, commercial and residential jetting, water treatments, and more. Visit our reviews online to see what others have to say about our local plumbing company!