Why do I run out of hot water so quickly?

There are several reasons this can happen. First, you may have a water heater that is simply too small of your requirements. If you have an electric water heater, you need to make sure the elements are not corroded and are operating properly. If you heat your water with gas, make sure the burners are clean and operating efficiently. In some cases the dip (mixing) tube may be clogged or broken, this will cause a short loop in the water heater that results in stratification or layers of hot and cold water. Sometime, a leak in a hot water line may be leaking water faster that the water heater can keep up. Finally, the simplest solution may be that your thermostat is set too low for the demand.