Why would it take 10 minutes to run the water before I start getting hot water?

how far is your water heater to your farthest spigot? that makes alot of difference ......and also are the pipes and the water heater insulated ....you need that if they are not...email me if you cant get any decent answers or even if you think they are let me know ......ok??...its a very easy problem to fix

Insulating the pipes (hot water) will help some but ten minutes or so is excessively long. Call a plumber and inquire about a recirculation system . This is a system that mounts a circulation pump on the water heater and a simple manifold under your farthest sink. It simply pushes cool water in the hot pipe into the cold pipe. It's' no wait ' hot water ... the system is made by Taco or Grundfos. I posted this system once before and in anticipation of the ones who have never heard of this system but know everything there is to know about it...THERE IS NO NEED FOR AN ADDITIONAL RETURN LINE TO BE INSTALLED.

I'm seeing some answers here that are partially right. When you turn on the hot water the hot water has to travel to the faucet you are using before you get hot water there. Not only is the hot water got to get there but it will loose some of its heat to the pipes. Once the hot water has flowed through the pipes for a little while the pipes the water will be at its hottest. If your pipes aren't insulated you will loose more heat.

Sounds liek either your heating element went out or there is a serious sediment buildup inside blocking the water flow and elements. If it is a model new than 5 years, it is possible to hook a hose up to the outlet that is on the front of the unit and then open the valve to allow the nasty water and sediments to come out. That being said, if it is older than about 5 years and I am assuming that no one has ever drained the sediments out of the tank then it is time for a new one. Once you get the new one, you should drain the tank every three month to avoid a nasty buildup that could damage the new unit. If this is a condo you have purchased rather than rented, your home warranty should cover it. Replace it now though before it begins to leak which will present a whole new set of problems.

Oh boy, sounds like some one else is having my kind of luck here. It shouldn't take that long for it to get hot. Your water heater is probably going. Check and make sure the pilot is lit, if so shut it down. Now take the spigot to empty the tank and open it, it could just be sediment in the bottom. Let the tank empty thoroughly. Shut the spigot and let it refill, Light the pilot after it is full and wait a good half hr to 1 hr to let the water get good and hot. Now try it, If it is still taking that long maybe it is the tank. I hope not, they are an added expense we don't need. I just after changing mine about 6 mo ago.

it takes that long to get the old water out of the pipes so that the warm or hot water can begin in earnest. but 10 minutes?? wow, you need to seriously upgrade to a better more efficient water heater, insulate your pipes, and the heater itself. if you want instant hot water you might want to look into those tankless heaters that continuously pump hot water through the pipes.

How far are the taps from the heater.

The water in the pipes is not hot until they fill up with the hot water from the tank.

So until you run the water that has gone cold sitting in the pipes you get no hot water.

Your Hot Water Heater needs insulation and it should be replaced with an energy-efficient on-demand unit. Also, your water pipes may need better insulation.

Insulate piping and istall a domestic hot water circulating pump. How far is the faucet from the source of water?

water in line from last time you used the hot water

it needs to go out and be replaced with the new hot water

good luck