Unless you’re one for just nipping in the shower as quickly as possible, when your shower goes cold after a few minutes it’s very frustrating. Odds on you’ll have shampoo in your hair just as the water temperature plummets. And yes, you’ve got no choice but to rinse it out there and then.
To stop it happening, it helps to know what causes it in the first place. Here are three common reasons why a shower goes cold after a few minutes.
All your hot water has been used up
When you have a busy family and a hot water tank, it’s easy to lose track of how many people have been washing in the last few hours. If your boiler hasn’t been heating up the tank in that time, it’s possible all was fine when you first started your shower… but then you ran out of luck.
The good news is that it’s easy to fix. You just need to put the hot water on for a bit and practice your patience. Obviously, if your hair is all soapy, though, you might still need to grit your teeth and rinse it out in cold water for the meantime.
Also, don’t forget, if you have a washing machine or dishwasher that has a hot water feed, this can gobble up some of your hot water too. The best thing is to time when you put these on, so you don’t suffer from this problem in the future.
Your hot water setting is wrong
It’s possible that the heat setting on your boiler has been knocked. So, though your shower may start off hot, you finish off the last of it in your tank and then your system only has chilly water to offer. If it hasn’t been knocked, though, it’s likely that you need to speak to a qualified to heating engineer to check if your boiler has a problem.
Your boiler has stopped working
Following on from the point above, it’s also possible that your boiler has stopped working full stop. Obviously, you’ll be able ascertain if this is the case if you go to switch it on to heat your hot water. Again, if there is a problem, you need to contact your local qualified heating engineer to ask them to come and investigate.
Your showerhead mixer valve is broken
The mixer valve is the bit that controls the mixing of the hot and cold water above your head. You choose a setting on your temperature dial, and it ensures the mix is right. Often, if it’s broken, you are no longer able to add enough hot water to keep the shower spray warm. It may work initially, but then it slips back, and only cold water can pass through.
If you feel up to it, you may be able to replace the showerhead mixer valve yourself. However, if you’re unsure, it’s best to have a chat with your local plumber and see if they can help.
Low water pressure
If the water pressure to your house drops, this can affect how the hot water pressure is working in your system too. If your shower goes cold after a few minutes, it might be that you’ve been unlucky enough to be showering just as the water pressure dropped. The best thing to do is see if other taps are experiencing lower pressure, plus check if your neighbours are experiencing a problem too. If others in your street are, notify your waterboard. If it’s restricted to your property only, it’s best to give your local plumber a ring.
If you’re struggling with a shower that goes cold after a few minutes and can’t solve the problem immediately, please do give us a ring on 01908 034194. We’ll be delighted to help if we can.