Symptoms
- Several minutes pass before water turns warm
- Wait has always been long, or has recently gotten worse
- Other fixtures near the shower have the same delay
- Water eventually gets hot and stays hot
Likely causes
- CommonLong distance between the water heater and the showerCold water sitting in a long run of pipe has to be pushed out before hot water arrives, especially on upper floors or far bathrooms.
- CommonNo hot water recirculation systemHomes without a recirculating pump rely entirely on flow to bring hot water to distant fixtures.
- PossibleFailing recirculation pump (if one exists)If your home has a recirc pump and the wait has recently worsened, the pump may have stopped working.
- PossibleWater heater undersized or thermostat set lowA heater that struggles to maintain temperature can add to the perceived delay.
What to do
- Time how long it takes for water to get hot at the shower versus a fixture closer to the water heater.
- If the delay is consistent with distance, this is normal and can be improved with a recirculation system if desired.
- Check whether your home has a recirculation pump (often near the water heater) and confirm it's powered on and running.
- Listen or feel the pump housing for warmth or vibration indicating it's operating.
- If the pump seems dead, check its power source and any timer settings, since some are scheduled to run only certain hours.
- Verify the water heater thermostat is set to a normal temperature (around 120°F) and not turned down.
- Consider a demand-type recirculation pump installed under the sink or shower as a retrofit if the wait bothers you and no system exists.
Tools and parts
- Stopwatch or phone timer
Hot water recirculation pumpSearch: “under sink hot water recirculating pump”
When to call a pro
Call a plumber to install or repair a recirculation system, or to inspect the water heater if temperature also seems off.
Safety
Generally low risk
Generally low risk for a careful person. Stop if anything looks different from what this guide describes.