Why Do I Run Out of Hot Water So Quickly?! 4 Reasons You're Out of Hot Water 

I think I know your father and he keeps recommending a tankless heater for you.

Back in the 80’s they had trouble with defective dip tubes. It can happen, but a very rare occurrence. The way you know a dip tube is broke, you get very little hot water. Regarding the sediment on the bottom of the heater, the only way to tell is if your gas bill increases. People tend to take longer showers in the winter.

I would recommend you replace the lower element.

I think you’re right that the bottom element burned out. If you have a 1 1/2” socket and breaker bar to go with it, you can do it yourself. First shut off the water to the water heater, open a hot water faucet until the water stops flowing with any pressure, turn the power off to the heater and make sure the power is off using an electrical tester. You want to use a screw in sandhog element, straight without a U bend. Install the gasket that comes with the new element at the bottom of the threads. Make sure there are no faucets being used in the house while doing this job. Unscrew the old element, pull it out of the heater, push the new element in, and tighten it. You’ll probably get two cups of water out of the heater while installing the new element. Put wires back on the element, turn water on to the heater, check and make sure water is coming out of the hot water side of a faucet at a good flow with no air. Now turn the power back on to the heater. As long as the heater is not leaking, I would repair it. DIY or call a plumber, you decide. P.S. you could drain the whole heater down and then replace the element. That will take a few hours.

@@TheGrumpyPlumber THANK YOU!!!😁

That’s a new one I’ve never heard of.

Make sure the thermostat is set between A and B if it’s a gas heater. You want both elements set at 125 if it’s an electric heater. On the cold fill side of the heater, there is a dip tube in the heater that could be broken. If you just bought the house, the realtor might have given you a house warranty so check that out.

@@TheGrumpyPlumber I did turn up the temp thinking that was the issue so I'll turn it back to 125. The house is old but the water heater is new. I don't believe there is a home warranty in place

If you were to hire me to come to your house, I would have you turn on the shower and when the water turns cold, I would have you yell to me so I could see if the heater turned on. If the heater didn’t turn on, then I would check the dip tube. If you’re noticing the lack of hot water only in the shower and you have a pressure balance valve, you probably have to change the cartridge because the piston in the cartridge will stick. New heaters can have a manufacturing problem. You always have the six year warranty. All you have to do is give the manufacturer the serial number of the heater. If they ask if you’re the original owner, you say yes.

@@TheGrumpyPlumber thank you!!!

Well thank you! I’ll certainly enjoy it.

I was told that the average life of a gas water heater is 8 years, depending on where you live in the country.

@TheGrumpyPlumber thank you. I live in Illinois if that helps.

I love rainbows and butterflies and conserving water. 🤣😂

If you have an electric water heater, the bottom element probably needs to be replaced. If you have a gas heater, the fill tube on the cold side of the heater could be broken. You could have this same problem with an electric heater. If you have a heater under 40 gallons, it’s too small.

@@TheGrumpyPlumber it's a 30 gallon and the landlord said it's new. I just moved in

A 30 gallon water heater only allows 18 usable gallons of hot water. As hot water goes out, cold water goes in and mixes with the hot. You need to get use to shorter showers. Sorry.

I know, nice hot showers are wonderful, especially in the winter. Now, if you had an on demand heater, you could enjoy that shower for hours.