are there any tricks to making my hot water heater perform better?

A long time ago they used to sell hot water heater blanket or wraps, but I don't know it they are sold any more. Years ago the power company would give them to people with low incomes to help with their power bills.

If this an Electric Heater, it is most likely the heating element gone out. They less then $10 at Lowe's/Home Depot. Be very sure the electric to the heater is off. Remove the metal panel, if there one top and bottom, check the top first. Most likely when the pipes were re-work the water level go down in the heater (Siphon effect) and the top element overheat and burn out. You may want to check both. Use a garden hose to drain the heater. Once it repair, be sure to fill well with water before turning the electric back on to the heater, let it set for air to settle and refill, do this by turning on a hot water faucet.. Also, I would use a Volt Meter to be sure the electric is off, regardless of what the Breaker Box say. One good thing about Professionals, they make mistakes too! ;-)

dont modify the water heater..it isnt safe and isnt legal....the fact that you ask might mean your water heater has a problem...easiest way to check is to see how much hot water it delivers before it is luke warm....any water heater should deliver 2/3 - 3/4 of its capacity before the water temp drops more than 10deg...you can test this by going to the tub with a 3 gallon bucket [ dont use any hot water for at least an hour before the test]..turn on only the hot water,fill and dump the bucket [dont burn yourself,some water heaters are set too high] until the water temp drops 10deg or it is noticably cooler than at the start...if your water heater is 40 gallons,it should deliver 9-10 buckets of hot water....30 gal heater should deliver 7-8 buckets,and so forth.... if the water heater delivers a lot less than it should,it is likely your dip tube is bad,,they can be replaced but better off replacing the tank if over 8-10 years old.......if water heater is electric [ and has 2 elements and 2 tstats] and doesnt supply enough hot water,,it could be the lower tstat or element is bad.........dan

In addition to insulating the pipes. Drain the tank at least once a year to flush sediment. Without sediment on the bottom of the tank, the burner will heat the water faster and more efficiently.

If it's an older heater it has sediment built up on the inside making it operate inefficiently. Draining it only helps if you do so on a maintenance schedule.

Insulating the pipes may also help a little, but replacement would be ideal.

you can install a loop system it keeps hot water circulating

in a loop to the faucets and you will have hot water all the time,

plus you store more in the pipes

I taught mine to roll over and play dead using water heater biscuits and treats, available at most good plumbing stores. They might have these behind the counter, so be sure and ask. :)

does it have 2 heating units ,that gives it quick recovery. is it 240 vac or 115vac .what is the capacity.you might want a higher capacity heater.

Insulate, insulate, insulate, at least a double layer on heater and all pipes!

Yes rub it gently.

Dennis G