Water Heaters - Hot water goes out fast !

We have a 40 gallon water tank. I take a shower in the morning and only stay in probably 5 minutes at the most, my son then takes a shower no problem, but then my husband tries to take one and there is no hot water. Is there a water saver switch on the hot water heater, or how can I solve this problem? We just bought the home and we all need to take showers in the morning, but it is very frustrating to have no hot water.

A 40 Gal. water heater [gas] was the bare minimum for a dwelling in the area that I work. The only solution is to get a larger heater with a high recovery, lots of luck.

What size was your old water heater ? I have a 40 gal and three showers is pushing it at my house also. Especially since the wife and kids tend to take long showers.

What temperature is the tank's water?

Agree with everyone else...... your water heater is too small. If you have the space, another 40 gallon is series with the existing one should do the trick. Alternatively, you could replace the existing unit with a much larger one, say 75 gallons or so.

Another option, but you must use caution especially with kids, is to turn the temperature up.

How do you turn the hot water up?

If this is a gas unit, there is a big knob on the front of the thermostat. But since you asked, I'm now thinking you may have an electric unit. I'm I correct? If so, PLEASE turn off the power FIRST (water heaters run on 240 volts). Then remove the lower front cover (one or two small screws). Pull back the insulation, and you will see the thermostat. You may need a small screwdriver to turn the shaft to adjust the temperature.

Although everyone here is correct from what i see...it is possible to have a bad element as well and only half the tank is heating up.

I still agree with everyone though that 40gal is small for 3 people unless you wait about 15 minutes in between showers.

Do you have " water saver" shower heads installed ? If you do someone may have removed the plastic insert. They really helped me get through the kids teen age years. You should be able to do 3 short showers.

Try having the son go last once or twice. ( teens tend to understate the length of the shower - lol)

For the record, I firmly believe that 40 gallons should be enough for the typical 4 person family. If you run out on showers it's proof positive that you should have some type of heat exchanger on the drain to recycle some of the BTUs going down the drain. Do a google search on GFX.

As for this case, the water heater should be sufficient. I'd first see how much to get it fixed rather than just adding to landfill right off the bat.

I recently converted from electric to gas water heaters, and I found through research that electric water heaters are terribly expensive to operate, have very poor recovery times, and have more frequent problems (bad elements) than gas units. If you have an old water heater it is probably getting limed up and very inefficient, the cost of switching to gas would quickly be recovered through savings in operating costs, and you would be able to take as long and as many consecutive showers as you want. My 21 year old son and my wife both take showers every morning before I do, and I've NEVER run out of hot water, and we have a 40 gallon gas water heater. If you have an electric that can't keep up, maybe it's time to switch over. Good luck!

Who: Sorry but I have to chastise your post; there is no way that a 40gal. water heater [gas or electric] is large enough for 4 people unless they don't take showers! Sorry.

a bit harsh but nonetheless --- let's see...

40 gallon tank, let's assumeonly 32 gallons are usable and there is NO recovery

my "showering" family of 4 keeps our tank at 135°

HW 135°x65% + CW 55°x35% = 107° average shower temp

so a standard 2.5gpm shower head is flowing 65% HW or 1.6gpm

32 usable gallons divided by 1.6gpm = 20 minutes

that's enough water to allow 4 people to take concurrent 5 minute regular showers

if you can't get clean in 5 minutes in the morning, i'd hate to see the bed! ;-)

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add in a good method for capturing the BTUs that are going down the drain and that tank is extended by 30%

i'll stand by my experiences, my beliefs and a respect for the real cost of energy consumption

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with a properly functioning tank, I can't see why the original poster and her family of 3 can't all shower unless her son's spending 15 minutes in there

i liked tribe-fan's response the best!!! <g>

It isn't in my codebook anymore, but i believe when we used to use the 1994 SBCCI where i live it had recommended water heater sizes. I believe if memory serves me a 3 bedroom 2 bath house was sized at 40 gallons.

Would 50 be better? Sure.

40 should be fine for 3 people..and if they give it about 5-10 minutes between showers it should really be fine.

I agree..larger might be better....but i think personally it might be an element gone bad.

My question to the poster is: Is this problem seem fairly new? Did you used to have no problem taking showers and all of a sudden you can't get all 3 people thorugh it or have you never had enough hot water?

Here's an issue which hasn't been discussed: the infamous dip tube problem. If your water heater dates from about the 1993 to 1997 time frame, that may be your problem. The serial number on the heater indicates the year of manufacture. If it is in that time frame, google "dip tube" for all the information.

Based on experience - not a formula.

A 40 gallon tank CAN be enough for 4 showers in the morning, within 1/2 hour period. We had two showers. If one person ( teen) hogs the water until it is cool, then you're done. It takes a much longer time to recover. Water saving heads are needed.

Keep in mind that the water is not first in first out. When you use water, the cold starts mixing in with the 40 gallons.

With a gas unit - if its much over 10 years old, then it needs to be replaced. Trust me. If you don't it will leak on a Sunday night when Lowes is about to close.

If I did not need to up size my gas line and vent, I surely would have bought a tankless. My brother in law has one - and its great, as long as you don't try to do 3 things at once. (Washer, disshwasher, Shower)