Why Is My Franklin Home’s Water Heater Not Keeping Up During Winter?

The water heater in your Franklin home has provided reliable performance for several years, but this winter, it just doesn’t seem to be keeping up. More than once, you’ve started a shower that became cooler than you wanted pretty quickly. You’re also noticing that your energy bills are a bit higher than they’ve been. What could be causing the water heater to behave this way?

Incoming Water is Cooler (Cold Showers)

Whether your Franklin home is on a municipal water supply or a private well, water travels through underground pipes to reach your home. When the ground gets freezing cold, so does the water in those pipes. That means your home’s water heater may have to work harder to bring the temperature up to your desired setting. As an example, the incoming water temperature in summer may be 60°F but drops to 35°F in sub

A Lack of Capacity

If it seems like your Franklin home’s water heater is not working as well as it should, it could be that your family’s needs have changed. A common reason is children getting older. If your kids were pre-teens when the water heater was installed but are now teenagers, they’re probably taking longer showers and taking them more often. Plus, you’re probably doing a lot more laundry and washing more dishes. All that additional water usage adds up, and it may be that a water heater that worked just fine when you used less is straining to keep up now.

Higher Demand (Seasonal)

Most Franklin homeowners use their water heaters more during the winter months. After you’ve shoveled snow off the sidewalk, nothing takes the chill out of your bones quite like a steaming hot shower. Because families spend more time indoors during the winter, they typically do more laundry and cooking, which also increases the demands on your water heater.

Sediment Buildup

You probably don’t notice it, but nearly all water contains certain levels of minerals such as calcium and magnesium. As hot water sits in your water heater’s tank, those minerals tend to fall from the water and accumulate into sediment at the bottom the water heater. The sediment makes it harder for the water heater’s burner or heating elements to increase the temperature, because it acts like a blanket of insulation. Flushing your water heater annually will reduce the amount of sediment and extend its service life.

Older Water Heater

Most properly maintained tank-type water heaters provide about a decade of reliable service. As they get closer (or beyond) their tenth birthday, you may notice a decrease in performance and an increase in energy consumption. That’s even more apparent during the winter months as the heater struggles to keep up with higher demands. Replacing your existing water heater with a newer, more reliable, and more efficient model can save you money in the long run.

Inadequate Insulation

In many older Franklin homes, little consideration was given to insulation when the plumbing was installed. By going back and using pipe insulation to protect hot water pipes and wrapping the water heater tank with a specially made fiberglass blanket, you’ll lose less of the heat your water heater has generated for you.

Expert solutions for all your water heater problems

Johnson Heating, Cooling, and Plumbing's team of expert plumbers will inspect your water heater every year. As they examine your water heater, our team can identify potential issues, perform thorough maintenance, and offer expert advice about extending its life. Regular check-ups can catch problems early, preventing costly repairs or the need for premature replacement, so call us right away to schedule your water heater inspection.