Inconsistent water temp from gas hot water heater

[mkshue]

I am hoping someone could give advice.
Most of the times when I go to take a shower I have only lukewarm water and other times the water temp is fine. The problem started several months ago and seems to be getting worse (i.e. larger percentage of the time I have only lukewarm water) There seems to be no consistency or correlation with time of day or any other factors. I am the only one using hot water in the house and I have a 30 gal gas hot water heater. About 75% of the time my water is only lukewarm and runs out very quickly but 25% of the time the amount and temp of the hot water is fine. I have been reading on your site for awhile now and am wondering if it is the dip tube?
Thank you so much.

[majakdragon]

mkshue, Welcome to the DIY Forums.
Dip tubes are a plastic tube that sits in the opening for the cold water supply in your water tank. When hot water is used, the cold water is allowed into the tank through the diptube and directed to the bottom of the tank and thus pushes the hot water out to the fixture needing it. If the diptube is broken or dropped into the tank then you get a "short circuit" and the cold goes directly to the hot water discharge pipe and you get cold or lukewarm water. Your problem does indeed sound like the diptube is failing. Good luck and reply back with further questions.