Hot Water Heater not making enough hot water --

Ringo Langly · 2005-03-04T13:19:30+00:00

Hi all,I'm having a strange problem with the hot water in my home, and I'dlove some advice on it. A quick history -- I bought my home 2 yearsago and then the hot water heater (40 gallon electric) was only maybe 1year old. Last summer the bottom started to leak, and i was greeted toan inch of water in my hallway one morning. Anyway, it had a 9 yearwarrenty from Home Depot, so I took it back and replaced it with a 50gallon electric hot water heater. It was literally $10 more for the 50gallon over 40, so figured what the hell. I live by myself, but I hopeto start a family someday.About about a month after installing the 50 gallon hot water heater Igot a roommate, and that 50 gallon has been working great until twomornings ago when i went to get a shower and ran out of hot water aftermaybe 3 minutes. I asked my roommate if she took a long shower, andshe hadn't -- plus the washing machine nor dishwasher had been running- this was in the morning before work. Neither of us have changed ourroutines, and every morning since she moved in 6 months ago we've hadplenty of hot water to spare.The water is hot, plenty hot when you use it, but it's just not makingenough. I felt the exit line from the hot water heater and it is warm,and it has power... is there something that would cause this sucker toquit making the quantities of hot water it was making? It's in a trayand such, and there's no water in the tray or the overflow pipe (whichruns to the tray), so it's not leaking.Any ideas?? This sucker is a pain to replace, so I hate to replace itagain -- but I like my hot showers more :)Thanks or any advice or suggestions. Ringo