Few household problems feel more immediate than a shower that will not get or stay hot. That is what one renter described online after moving into a new place, saying the water went lukewarm after five minutes and the landlord did little to fix it.
For households that can replace aging equipment, a heat pump water heater is an efficient upgrade to a standard tank. Renters, however, depend on landlords to approve and pay for such changes, though the latter has little incentive to make upgrades.
Here's what to know
After a maintenance request led to a two-week wait and no repair, the tenant took their question to Reddit's r/askaplumber community. In the Reddit thread, they asked how to turn up the hot water.
"I just want to take it into my own hands but want to make sure I am taking the right steps," the original poster wrote.
Commenters offered their two cents. "That 20-gallon tank probably has 30 gallons of sediment in it, and the bottom heating element is probably burnt out," one user wrote.
Another stated: "It doesn't sound like you have a temperature issue. It sounds like you have a capacity issue. Which means one of the two heating elements is burnt out. A common issue and easily diagnosed with an Ohm electrical meter."
More background
Delayed maintenance and limited control over home systems are common renter frustrations.
If a water heater is set on low, has a failing heating element, or is simply too small for the unit, the burden should not fall on a tenant to diagnose the problem or deal with electrical components.
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Landlords across the country have been known to prevent renters from adopting money-saving lifestyle changes, including native plant gardens and clotheslines for drying laundry. When tenants are blocked from making simple efficiency upgrades or from repairing essential equipment, they can end up paying more while getting less comfort.
Outdated building rules and delayed repairs can keep people from living affordably and sustainably.
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