Water Heater: Why isn't my water heater making the water hot enough?

Carefully adjust the water heater's thermostat setting if it's set below 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Adjust the temperature setting in small increments to avoid producing scalding hot water. You shouldn't need to adjust the temperature above 130 degrees. Setting the thermostat above 130 degrees can produce water that's too hot.

Sometimes, you'll use up the hot water in the tank and you'll need to wait for the tank to recover before the water is fully heated. Consider replacing your water heater with a larger capacity model if your current model doesn't supply enough hot water to meet your needs. A 40-gallon water heater typically supplies enough hot water for a family of four with normal water use.

A failed heating element or bad thermostat can cause heating problems in an electric water heater. Follow the tips in our how to troubleshoot no hot water in an electric water heater video to fix the problem.

In a gas water heater, a damaged burner could result in water not heating properly. Check the burner assembly and replace it if damaged.

Excessive tank sediment also inhibits water heating. Shut off the electricity and water supply to the water heater and drain the tank to flush out sediment. Refill the tank before restoring electrical power the water heater to avoid damaging the heating elements.