water heater is running out of water

[hpcbmw]

My water heater is starting to run out of hot water. Rarely a problem running the shower, but running the bath it will sometimes run out of hot water.  It seems worse when we come home after being gone for a couple of days.  I've turned up the thermostat and it seems a bit better, but not like it used to be.  The heater is at least 10 years old, probably older.  Any ideas?

[RegUS_PatOff]

 

How's the Anode Rods #2 & #5 and Dip Tube #15?

If the the Dip Tube is corroded away, it will add the cold water near the top of the Tank (where the hot water exits)

 

 

HN4940T Owners Manual

[Samurai Appliance Repair Man]

The dip tube in the middle might be getting eaten out resulting in the water path short circuiting. The dip tube is supposed to extend pretty far down into the heater tank. But heat and corrosive water can eat the tube out from the lower part up so that it's drawing water from the upper portion of the tank instead. At 10 years old, this would not be an unusual event. Only fix is to replace the water heater

[Samurai Appliance Repair Man]

Reg beat me to it!