Why Your Water Heater Isn’t Producing Enough Hot Water in Davis, CA

Running out of hot water halfway through a shower or while doing dishes is a frustrating—and familiar—experience for many Davis homeowners. If this keeps happening in your home, it’s more than just an inconvenience. It may be a sign that your water heater isn’t keeping up with your household’s needs.

Let’s walk through the most common reasons your water heater might be falling short—and what you can do to get reliable hot water again.

Table of Contents

Start with Your Water Heater’s Capacity

One of the first things we check when someone calls about hot water issues is the size of their water heater. Why? Because a water heater that’s too small for your home just won’t cut it—no matter how well it’s working.

If your tank can’t hold enough gallons of hot water or your tankless water heater isn’t rated for the flow your family needs, you’ll keep running into problems.

Ask yourself:

How many people live in your household?
Are hot showers, laundry, and dishwashing happening around the same time?
Have you added new appliances—or family members—that use more water?

When your home’s water usage grows, your system needs to keep up. If it can’t, the fix might be a larger tank water heater or upgrading to a high-capacity tankless model that can handle your demand in real time.

Too Much Demand, Not Enough Heat

Even if your water heater’s size is technically right for your home, it may still fall short during high-use periods. This happens a lot in homes where multiple bathrooms, appliances, and faucets are running at once. Electric water heaters, in particular, may need time to recover between cycles, while older gas water heaters may struggle if their burner or pilot light isn’t operating efficiently.

Sometimes, it’s not about the gallons—it’s about how fast your system can heat water to keep up.

We often recommend:

Spreading out hot water use when possible
Checking your water heater’s recovery rate
Considering a tankless upgrade if your schedule doesn’t allow for waiting

If your hot water supply has changed recently, or you’re just not getting hot water when you need it most, it’s worth having a plumber take a closer look. We’ll inspect the system, assess whether it’s properly sized, and spot any signs of wear, leaking water, or other plumbing issues affecting performance.

What’s Really Behind Your Hot Water Running Out?

When the water heater seems to be working, but you’re still not getting enough hot water, it’s time to dig a little deeper. In our experience helping Davis and Sacramento-area homeowners, there are a handful of issues we see again and again. Some are quick fixes—others need a closer look.

1. Sediment Is Taking Up Space and Blocking Heat

This one sneaks up on a lot of people. Over time, minerals from your water supply settle to the bottom of your hot water heater, especially if you’ve got hard water in the area (and in Davis, that’s common).

That gritty buildup doesn’t just sit there—it creates a barrier between the burner or heating element and the water itself. So even if your system sounds like it’s working, the water inside isn’t getting hot the way it should.

You might notice:

It takes longer for the water to heat up
The hot water runs out faster than it used to
Your energy bills quietly climb

If it’s been more than a year since your tank was flushed, it’s probably overdue. A professional plumber can drain the water, clear out the sediment, and make sure there’s no damage hiding under the buildup.

2. Heating Elements (or Burners) Aren’t Doing Their Job

In electric models, heating elements wear down. In gas units, burner performance or the pilot light can fail. Either way, if the core of the system isn’t heating effectively, you’ll get warm water—but not enough of it.

These red flags usually show up:

You get hot water, but it doesn’t last
Water comes out lukewarm at best
You have to keep adjusting the faucet just to get a usable temperature

It’s tempting to write it off as “just how the water is lately,” but these are real signs that something inside your water heater needs to be replaced. Don’t wait too long—running a system with bad components can create bigger problems later.

3. A Thermostat Set Too Low—or Just Broken

Most people never touch their water heater’s thermostat, and that’s fine—unless it drifts out of range or stops working altogether. A setting below 120°F might save a little on the energy bill, but it can also leave you wondering why your showers aren’t getting hot enough.

Quick tip:

If you adjust the thermostat and still don’t notice a difference, the issue may be internal. At that point, a replacement is usually the fastest fix.

4. Leaks Are Stealing Your Hot Water

A leaking water heater doesn’t always leave a big puddle behind. Sometimes the signs are subtle: damp spots near the tank, a sudden drop in hot water pressure, or having to wait longer for the faucet to heat up.

The most common leak sources?

The tank itself (especially older models)
Connections and valves
Internal corrosion that’s just now breaking through

If water is escaping, your system has to work harder to maintain both volume and temperature. And that stress builds fast. The sooner you get a plumber involved, the better.

5. Age Is Catching Up with the System

Once your water heater crosses the 10-year mark, wear and tear starts to show—no matter how well it’s been maintained. Internal components weaken, heat transfer slows down, and leaks become more likely.

Here’s what we usually see:

Tank units lose efficiency after 8–12 years
Tankless heaters last longer—sometimes 20+ years—but still need regular maintenance

If your water heater is getting up there in age and can’t keep up with your daily hot water usage, it might be time to look into a replacement. Today’s high-efficiency units—whether tank or tankless—can also help cut down your water and energy bills over time.

Count on Yolo Plumbing Inc. When the Hot Water Runs Out

We’ve helped a lot of homeowners in Davis and across the Sacramento area deal with water heater issues—and it’s rarely just one thing. Whether it’s a leak, a faulty valve, or just a unit that’s past its prime, our plumbers know how to spot the signs and fix the problem before it turns into a bigger hassle.

If your system isn’t giving you enough hot water, we can take a look, clean out any sediment, repair or replace worn parts, and make sure your water heater is working the way it should. If you’re thinking of switching to a tankless model, we can walk you through your options and make sure the setup is right for your household.

Contact us today to schedule a visit. We’re here to help you get consistent, reliable hot water—and keep your home running smoothly.