Your water heater should supply enough hot water to your household on demand as needed, although this isn't always the case. If you're the last to shower in the morning, you may run out of hot water, especially if you have a larger family. In this case, your water heater may not be large enough for your family. If you are running out of hot water long before you typically do, this could be an issue with your appliance altogether and it needs to be taken care of. Read on for a few reasons why your water heater is running out of hot water and what you can do about it.
Your Water Temperature Is Not Hot Enough
You could be running out of hot water because your water heater thermostat was turned down too low and the water inside is more lukewarm than actually hot. If someone happened to mess around with the thermostat and turned it down too low, it needs to be readjusted. Find the thermostat on the water heater and adjust the temperature setting to something a little warmer, give it a few hours to heat up, and then check it again to see if the water coming out is hot enough and long-lasting like it should be.
You Have Hard Water
If your water heater is running out of hot water quickly and you have hard water, the bottom of the water heater may be calcified or you could have a mineral buildup that is blocking the heater core at the base of the water heater, which will not allow the water to get hot enough. If you have hard water, this is something that is going to need to be inspected. You will need to empty the contents of the water heater in order to do this, which means you also have to turn off the water supply to the water heater and the gas. Empty the entire tank and then suction out the contents in the base. If it's too blocked with calcium buildup, you may need to invest in a new water heater.
If your water heater is running out of hot water and it is not able to keep up with the demand of your household, you may want to consider investing in a new water heater that can accommodate your entire family. Talk to a professional plumber about the issues you have been having and whether your water heater needs to be repaired or replaced.