Losing heat fast?

[carlee]

My family is complaining that the shower is going cold easily (faster than normal) and they are having to turn the hot water on more to keep the shower hot.  This is happening even with the first shower of the day so it's not the water getting low.   I don't notice it so much, but I take pretty short showers compare to the kids and my husband.   I read in another post about how something could be the shower cartride valve?  Is there some way of testing to see if it's that or an issue with the hot water heater itself?

 

My husband did flush the hot water heater to make sure there wasn't sediment in the shower, but the problem still persists.

 

Thanks!

[Cactus Bob]

does the hot water get cold if you run it in the sink, when the shower is running cold ?

 

is the water heater Electric or Gas ?

Edited April 4, 2013 by Cactus Bob

[RegUS_PatOff]

model number ?

[carlee]

I'll check on both and report back, thanks.

[carlee]

No one is taking a shower right now so I ran the water in kitchen sink for 10 minutes on a warm setting (104.6 degrees) after 5 minutes the temperature dropped about 1.5 degreees after 10 minutes it had dropped to 102 degrees.  No other water was running in the house at that time or had been for a significant amount of time since this morning.

 

It is a gas heater AO Smit part number FGR 40 J000N0 10000

Does this help?  I don't know what is normal for hot water to drop when running.  I can try the sink again when the shower runs next either tonight or tomorrow moring.

 

Thanks for your help!

[Cactus Bob]

yes you must check the temp at the sink or somewhere other than the shower

but only after the shower has gone cooler

 

if both places have the cooler water your problem is in the water heater

 

if not and water in the sink is still hotter

 

the problem would be in the shower controls themselves

[carlee]

Thanks Kohai, I'll make that check.  If it's the hot water heater what might cause this problem?

Edited April 4, 2013 by carlee

[Cactus Bob]

there still may be gunk in the bottom of the water heater , the fitting you drain from is about 2 inches from the bottom of the tank . this has to be because the way the welding is done around the bottom and the fitting itself . so you never really get all the gunk out

 

or it might be a lazy gas valve thermostat , that takes it time calling for hot water even though the water is cold enough to trip the thermostat

in this case I would turn up the thermostat a little bit so the control works in another spot on the lever inside the control , and see if it helps