Constantly running out of hot water can be frustrating, and the culprit is likely your water heater. Fortunately, there are options that will solve this problem for good.

1. Increase the Tank Size

A common reason for constantly running low on hot water is that your heater tank isn't sized correctly for your needs. This is especially true if your family has grown in recent years, thus necessitating a larger tank. As a general rule of thumb, you need a tank that is 40 gallons in size for two people, then you should add 10 gallons for each additional person in your home. You may need to go a bit larger if you frequently have guests or entertain or have another reason why you would use more hot water than the average family of your size.

2. Upgrade to a Tankless Variety

Tankless water heaters are also known as on-demand heaters. While they do provide almost instantaneous hot water, they do not provide unlimited hot water. A tankless heater has a maximum gallons per minute rating, which means a single heater can only provide hot water to one or two taps at a time without running out of hot water. For larger families or multi-story homes, you may need to install multiple tankless heaters if you anticipate frequent simultaneous hot water use. You can also opt for small on-demand spigots for sinks and use a tank heater for showers if you prefer a combination system.

3. Install Additional Heaters

Sometimes the issue isn't with tank capacity but with how quickly hot water moves from the heater to your tap. In large homes or homes with multiple stories, it may make sense to install more than one water heater tank. This way the water doesn't have as far to travel and can get to the tap while it is still piping hot from being heated. Installing an additional heater is also one technique you can use to upgrade your tank capacity without replacing a newer but too small model prematurely.

4. Improve Efficiency

Improved efficiency means you don't waste hot water, so your tank won't run cold as quickly. Using low-flow faucets and showerheads, for example, reduces the amount of hot water used, but their design ensures no loss of water pressure. Insulating pipes and the heater itself will also improve efficiency since heat won't be lost and the water will arrive at the tap as hot as you desire.

Contact a water heater installation service for more help.