After two showers, using a standard capacity gas water heater for a 2500 sqft home, I loose hot water. This just started in the past 6 months but with winter we are noticing it more. Prior to this we could take showers run the laundry and a load of dishes before feeling any impact.

Any trouble shooting ideas?
Mike

Is the water heater gas or electric?

"using a standard capacity gas water". What is your capacity? A lot depends on length of showers as heaters have a specific recovery rate. Don't think it's a bad dip tube or you wouldn't get 2 showers. In winter, input water is colder and requires more BTU's to get temp up. Has the temp setting changed? I would be suspect of longer showers and I would bump up the standing temp a click or 2 but be careful of too high a temp. Sediment can affect gas heaters as well as electric, I would power flush the heater too.

ma0641,
It holds 50 gal. and the temp has never changed since the day I built the home. I have also never flushed the tank. I will look into how to go about that and give it a try. The length of shower time has not changed, we typically take quick showers and my wife will even turn the water off when she is showering to save water, so I doubt it is that.

Thanks for the trouble shooting option.

50 should be good for more than 2 showers. I do know that here, in Atlanta, the water mains are not that far underground and I can already notice that I have to move the mixer toward hot more to keep a consistent temp. By February it will be further over and then the cycle starts again, move back for the summer. Try moving the temp up 1 notch and do a power flush. It can be messy unless you have a hose directly out the door.

Here is an article about power flushing.
First, if you have an electric hot water heater, shut off the breaker or power source. If you have a gas water heater, turn the dial to pilot mode. For safety purposes, you should allow the tank to cool for at least an hour. Shut off the CW supply to the heater. You will need a garden hose that can reach either a sump pump, utility sink, or preferably outside onto a surface that won't be damaged by hot water. If draining into the utility sink, you may want to put some kind of strainer in it to prevent any sediment from clogging your drain. I would only use the utility sink as a last resort. There is a drain valve near the bottom of the hot water heater, where you attach the garden hose. (Make sure you have the hose on tightly or you may be getting a shower). After the hose is attached securely and directed to the drain location, open the drain valve and then CW supply valve carefully and let it flush until the water runs clear. This could take a few minutes or longer depending on how much sediment has built up. I have seen loads of rust from a well and hardly anything in other cases. Be very careful not to get scalded by the hot water if it has not had sufficient time to cool. When clear, close the valve, disconnect the hose and see if it improves your recovery. Good luck.

Thanks for the information. I am going to do the flush this weekend and see what happens. I am lucky because I have a floor drain right next to the water heater so I am going to simply remove the grate put the hose down a little ways and let er rip from the heater. Crossing my finger it will go smooth as silk with very little mess.

Your suggestions are much appreciated.

Did the flush and the good news/bad news is that the water ran clear immediately, no sign of rust or any other sediment. Bumped the temp up one notch and will keep an eye on the temp. Guess I will find out if this helped at all in the next day.

It is a little perplexing because I made sure to close all valves so only the water heater would be the one being drained but never saw any discoloration. Did not empty the entire tank but figured that would not matter since it drains from the bottom. Did run the flush with the cold turned on after a bit to see if something was just not getting pushed around in the tank and it all ran clear.

Hi Mike

When you power flush a water heater, you open the drain and let the water flow for awhile... that's it... nothing else!

I'd power flush again and put a nylon stocking over the end to see if it releases anything... ;)

If nothing comes out, then the grunge on the bottom has hardened and may not come loose easily!

Back to you...

Mark

Thanks massplumber, I will give it a try.

Mike

Hi Mike

If flushing the water heater doesn't work then pop back and we'll give you the next couple things to check... not much else that can go wrong, so you'll have your answer soon enough!

Have you checked your dip tube inside the tank, do you know how to do that?

I don't think it's the dip tube, Bob, as Mike is getting two showers in a row out of the water heater... then loses hot water.

With that being said, Mike will need to do some work and some calculations to know what's next... see what happens after the flushes the tank again.

Well, I'll ask again.
Is this a gas or electric water heaters?

Hi Harold. Mike didn't answer you because he stated that it was a "standard capacity gas water heater" in his original question... ;)

Sorry about that, the brain is not what it use to be.