Water Heater Runs Out Of Hot Water Quickly: Possible Reasons Why. As mentioned above, several things can cause a home's hot water supply to run out faster than it should. The three most common culprits are sediment build up, a faulty heating element and a broken dip tube.
If temperature issues are more recent, it might be because a dip tube broke. To see if this is the case, you can look for small bits of plastic that might be found in your shower head, drain strainers, or appliance filter screens. If you do find plastic bits, your water heater's dip tube is probably damaged.
Are you running out of hot water quicker than you used to? That's usually caused by a bad dip tube. But, if you have an electric water heater, the culprit could also be broken heating elements or a faulty thermostat.
If your shower is running out of hot water, it's likely due to one of the following problems: Malfunctioning thermostat. Broken dip tube. Sediment buildup in the tank.
Dirt and Clogs
A dirty pilot light may go out, a dirty thermocouple may stop working, and other dirty parts may interfere with your water heater's function. Clogs are bigger a problem. A clogged thermocouple is the most common problem that causes shutdowns.
One of the leading plumbing problems with a hot water system is a poorly maintained hot water tank. Sediment and corrosion build up within the tank. This lowers the water quality and slows the heating element's effects. A simple draining and cleaning process resolves these plumbing problems.
But if the water still remains warm for only short periods of time, you may have a blockage or obstruction in the pipes or a problem with your bathroom shower valve. When the rubber parts in the shower valve get worn and distorted from old age, they can swell up and restrict the waterways.
The average adult uses about 10 gallons of water per shower (at a rate of 2 gallons of water per minute). If you assume that an 80-gallon tank has about 55 gallons of hot water to dispense before refilling, that means you have 27 or so minutes of total shower time before running out of hot water.
A 10 minute shower with a standard showerhead using 15 litres per minute uses about 105 litres of hot water.
Distance: The farther away your hot water heater is from the faucet or shower where you want hot water to flow, the longer it will take to get there. A low volume restrictor: You may have a low volume restrictor installed on fixtures, like your shower, which can delay the delivery of water.
The life expectancy of a hot water tank varies depending on its size, how often it is used, and how well it is maintained. A standard 40-gallon tank will last between 10 and 15 years while larger tanks (50 gallons) have a lifespan of up to 20 years.
Point-Of-Use Tankless Water Heater
If you want to get hot water faster, a point-of-use tankless heater is another option to consider. These small units usually fit inside a sink cabinet or closet. They work much like whole-house tankless units but are intended to serve only one sink or shower.
If the heat is cutting off after 5 minutes then the TCO is working and you have a low flow problem causing the shower to overheat. If the actual water is cutting out then the flow valve will be required also.
Bad Heating Element
If your heating element goes bad, this lowers the temperature of your water and greatly affects how much hot water you get. So, if you start out with hot water, but then it goes cold fast, it could be that the water isn't getting heated anymore.
For instance, a typical shower uses about 10 gallons of hot water. So, if you have a 40-gallon hot water tank, you should be able to get four average-length showers out of your hot water tank. This also depends on how much hot water you use for other things.
Say your electric heater is 30 gallons. If the previous shower lasted 15 minutes, you're looking at about four minutes of hot water remaining. If you want to loll in your own 15-minute shower, you'll need to wait 47 minutes before stepping in.
In the average home, the water heater will run for about three hours each day. Total run time can range from one to two hours for new tankless water heaters to five or more hours for older tank style water heaters.
If you place your water heater on a higher setting, the water coming out of it will be hotter, and you won't need as much to reach that same temperature. Raising the temperature setting on your water heater ultimately makes your hot water supply last longer.
The most obvious cause of fluctuating water temperatures, according to Abrams, is simply “running low on hot water from the water heater.” He says, “This happens if you're last in line for a shower at your house, or if you have an undersized water heater.
Well, if you're getting hot water everywhere else in the house but the shower, you most likely have one of these 2 issues: Your anti-scald device is set too high. Your shower mixer valve went bad.
You're overusing hot water. The water heater tank size is too small for your household. Your hot water heater is tankless. Sediment or minerals have built up in your water heating system.
Over time, sediment builds up at the bottom of the tank. When the water is heated, the sediments harden. As a result, you can hear banging or rumbling noises from inside the heater. This is a sign that you need to get a new hot water heater, as its nearing the end of its operational lifespan.