Do you enjoy taking hot showers? Most of us do. It can be upsetting when the water suddenly becomes icy cold mid shower. 

There are a wide range of possible reasons why you’re running out of hot water. Identifying the problem is the first step to finding a solution. 

Possible reasons why you’re running out of hot water too quickly 

 

Small water heater tank

Do you run out of hot water too soon? You may have a small water heater tank to cater for your needs. Different households require different water heater tank sizes. A large family would need a larger tank than that required by a single person. In general, it is recommended that a household with 2 people should have a water heater with a 40 to 50-gallon capacity. This capacity should be increased by 10 to 15 gallons for each additional person in the household. 

If your household has grown, you may want to consider installing a larger water tank. 

 

There are too many appliances using the water simultaneously 

Is someone running hot water in the kitchen? Is your washing machine running? Your hot water could be running out quickly simply because there are other appliances that are using the hot water simultaneously. 

If there are many appliances running at the same time, the simple solution may be to schedule the running of different appliances. For example, you could take a shower before you run the washing machine. 

 

Sediment has built up in water heater 

If your heater has been in use for several years, there’s a good chance that sediment has built up inside the tank. This sediment is a result of mineral deposits in the tank. 

Water that is supplied to homes has minerals dissolved in it. When the water is heated, its capacity to hold dissolved minerals decreases. The minerals settle at the bottom of the water heater tank. This decreases the capacity of the tank over time. 

If this is the case, you should flush your heater. Drain the water heater tank, clean out the sediment and rinse the tank out with water. 

 

There is a thermostat issue 

The thermostat on your water heater tank is designed to control the heating of the water within the tank. If the thermostat isn’t working properly, your heater may not be heating water properly. It may be going off too soon or not heating water at all. 

Try resetting your thermostat by raising the temperature. If this doesn’t solve the problem, you may have to get the thermostat repaired or replaced. 

 

Your heater is too old 

Water heaters aren’t designed to last forever. Most last for about 8 to 12 years. Older water heaters begin to experience many problems such as bad lower elements, broken dip tubes and even leaking. If your heater is approaching 12 years of age, it may be time to consider investing in a new water heater. 

Tired of icy cold showers? Try the tips above to get to resolve the problem.