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Why can't I get hot water from my hot water heater?

I have a newly built house (3302 square feet). It has the same size hot water heater as my old house (2050 square feet). The water heater is a 50 Gallon GAS hot water heater. We are the same family of 4 so that has not changed. In the OLD house we never ran out of hot water. In the new house we seem to run out constantly. In fact, in my shower, being the FIRST to take a shower in the morning, I have to turn the knob up 80% just to get a comfortable shower. I only had to go up half way at the old house.

Both houses are slab foundations.

New house is 2 story - old house was single story.

Both houses are in the same geographic region.

The unit is in the garage as it was at the old house BUT the garage at the old house was heated and the garage at the new house is not. I know that may play a role, but I can't believe its THAT big of a difference.

So, why can't I get hot water from my hot water heater?

What can I do to correct this?

Would a tankless or a hybrid system help?

What do these solutions generally cost?

Thanks

LM

Update:

The temperature setting on the new hot water heater is at 120 degrees which is what I am told it should be set at. Does that help?

4 Answers

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  • Honey
    Lv 7
    9 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    Well the first thing to do is check the control on the side of the gas water heater and be sure it is turned to the hot setting.

    If so, it is possible that the dip tube in the water heater was broken or never installed. Since your house is newly built you may have a claim against the builder or plumbing contractor. Installing a new dip tube is not hugely difficult but you do need tools such as a MAPP gas soldering torch - about $40.00.

    In a gas-fired water heater, the "dip tube" is a plastic tube that runs inside the tank from near the bottom to the hot water outlet connection. Hot water is produced by the burner at the bottom of the tank and the dip tube carries it directly to the hot water outlet. Cold replacement water is introduced at the top of the tank. If the dip tube breaks off (and they sometimes do), the water you get at the shower is being pre-mixed with cold right at the top of the tank.

    A sure sign of a broken or missing dip tube is that you get reasonably hot water for a minute or two but then it slacks off to just warm.

  • 9 years ago

    First, check the position of the valve that controls the heater, if set to LOW that may be the biggest part of the problem.

    Second, the heated garage was a big help to keep the WH's temp up.

    Third, insulated plumbing plays another big role, the old house may have had fully insulated pipes and the new place only minimal. Location of plumbing within the house (attic, walls, etc.) plays another part.

  • ?
    Lv 4
    9 years ago

    I suspect the temperature setting is much lower on the new water heater, than it was on the old one.

    Try turning it up. CAUTION - don't turn it up too high (especially if you have young children) you don't want anyone to be scalded.

    See the video on adjusting the temp:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYSc4MPDKZY

  • 9 years ago

    You are NOT running out of hot water. You are experiencing the 'benefits' of a pressure regulated shower fixture. The US government mandated them years ago to keep you from burning yourself.

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