Areas We Serve

Areas We Serve

Why Does Hot Water Run Out So Fast?

You step into a relaxing warm shower only for the water to suddenly lose its heat. In seconds, you’re scrambling to finish up under a stream that’s gone lukewarm, then cold. If this sounds familiar, it’s not just bad luck—your water heater might be falling behind. Plenty of Federal Way households deal with this, and more often than not, the cause is easier to fix than you might expect. At 2 Sons Plumbing Federal Way, we’ve seen it all and know how to bring back those long, comfortable showers you’ve been missing.

Why Your Hot Water Doesn’t Last Long

Hot water running out too quickly can usually be traced to a few common issues:

The tank size is small. If your family has grown or you’re using more hot water than before, the amount of hot water won’t be enough.
Sediment accumulation. Minerals from hard water buildup at the bottom of the tank and there is less space available for hot water.
A broken dip tube. This little piece keeps cold water at the bottom of the tank. If it breaks, the cold mixes with the hot too soon.

Or it could be that your water heater is older and less efficient now.

Easy Fixes You Can Try

There are a few things to do before calling in a pro:

Flush the tank at least annually to clear out sediment.
Double-check the thermostat. Keep it around 120°F – safe, but still plenty hot.
Spread out your hot water use. Avoid using showers and doing laundry, and dishes all at once.

These tips can stretch your hot water a little longer. But, if the problem keeps coming back, your appliance needs professional attention.

When It’s Time to Call for Help

Sometimes, the hot water just won’t last no matter what you try. Call a plumber if you notice:

Water runs cold quickly even after flushing the tank
Rusty or brown water coming from the tap
Leaks around the water heater
Hot water that simply never stays hot

That’s where our team comes in. We’ll check your system, explain what’s going on in plain language, and guide you through your repair or replacement options.

What It Costs in Federal Way

The cost depends on what’s wrong, but here’s a ballpark idea:

Repairs: $200–$500
Replacement: $1,200–$4,500 for a new tank, depending on size and efficiency

Yes, replacement is a bigger investment, but it often pays off in lower energy bills and a lot less frustration. Plus, with the right-sized unit, everyone in your home can enjoy hot showers again—without the rush.

Call 2 Sons Plumbing Federal Way Today

Running out of hot water doesn’t have to be your new normal. Whether it’s a simple repair or a brand-new water heater, 2 Sons Plumbing Federal Way is here to help. We’ll find the cause, fix it fast, and make sure your home has the reliable hot water it needs.

Call us today at (206) 487-1757 to schedule service. Our friendly plumbers will give you honest answers, upfront pricing, and lasting solutions—so your hot showers can finally stay hot.

2 Sons Plumbing, Electrical, Heating & Air

4.9

Based on 3330 reviews

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Oaktree President

22:17 24 Oct 25

Our house decided to replace our own toilet, but we got stuck halfway through because we didn’t have the right tools and accidentally broke an anchor bolt. I called 2 Sons Plumbing, and they showed up within an hour to help us out. Derek, our plumber, was super friendly, explained everything clearly, and got the job done quickly and professionally. Excellent service all around—highly recommend!

Oaktree President

22:17 24 Oct 25

Victor Garcia

20:12 23 Oct 25

Dave and David came and cleared out a huge clog in my kitchen sink (both sides) that has been plaguing us for a while as well a ton of glass shards that got into the drain when our glass fridge shelf broke. Dave walked us through each step of the process and explained everything which was excellent. He also gave us advice about galvanized piping replacement. They even gave us a few free parts for the sink drain that had eroded away and didn’t charge extra for it!! All around 5 star service!!!

Victor Garcia

20:12 23 Oct 25

Steve P

20:40 21 Oct 25

Fantastic service and communication. Local company. Solved my clogged basement laundry utility sink. Dave and David were courteous, informative, professional and easy to engage with. Scheduling was easy (they came the next day) and they arrived within the expected time window. Transparent pricing and i could also apply a coupon. I will use them again.

Steve P

20:40 21 Oct 25

Ashton Wylde

05:46 21 Oct 25

Great service and Dave their plumber is the best. We have an odd house with even odder plumbing. The pipes are a mess of grandfathered-in open air nonsense, when our pump started making some noises (and a little leaking) after some DIY heat tape adventures (getting ready for colder weather), we were worried that we would need a massive repair but Dave came and looked at it and immediately realized we had unplugged the float plug from the pump plug which was 90% of the problem and the leak just need a little tightening of a flex joint. The company was quick and didn't charge for an estimate or in this case a quick "thats not plugged in right". The experience and the overall professionalism has convinced me that when I do finally need that big repair job, I'll call these guys.

Ashton Wylde

05:46 21 Oct 25

Spencer Charles

05:07 20 Oct 25

Booking an appointment was extremely easy, and we were able to get one just the next day. Communication was excellent with timely reminders and a call before our appointment. Kerry did a fantastic job both advising us and effectively resolving our issue.

Spencer Charles

05:07 20 Oct 25

LuAnn Mitchell

02:38 14 Oct 25

I have all good things to say about 2 Sons Plumbing. My first experience was a few years ago and the whole process went very smoothly. Making the appointment was easy and quick, the repair was done with no problem and I thought the price was fair. Recently, Dave from 2 Sons came out to look at several plumbing problems I was having and, within a matter of minutes, all of the problems were diagnosed. Dave gave me options and estimates all before he left my house. I haven’t had the work done yet but appreciate the information and the prices seemed fair to me. Dave was on time, professional and very knowledgeable. 2 Sons are my go to Plumbers.

LuAnn Mitchell

02:38 14 Oct 25

Kayla Huitt

16:58 13 Oct 25

Bob at 2 Sons Plumbing was amazing! We had a horribly backed up kitchen sink drain and he was able to fix it, and save us some money in the process! He heard what we had to say about our issue and double checked everything. Super friendly and very helpful. Thank you for the amazing work Bob!

Kayla Huitt

16:58 13 Oct 25

Mingmin Zhu

00:31 11 Oct 25

I had great experience with Chase, Riley, Seth, Manu, Nolan with a recent fix. They showed up promptly, transparent about the price upfront, set the expectations right, very professional, got things done perfectly, great communication and very honest and patient to answer all my questions, I will definitely use 2 sons again and will recommend it to my friends and neighbors.

Mingmin Zhu

00:31 11 Oct 25

Arul Menezes

00:41 10 Oct 25

Stellar job by Carey and his team at 2sons today. I had a complex job -- installing a yard hydrant/faucet for a garden across the (private) street. They had to go into the floor of the garage, run piping under the floor, out of the house, across the road. Had to cut into the asphalt, trench down a couple feet, then patch it all up again, including fixing the garage concrete floor. Super job. Looks really clean. Got it all done in a day.

Arul Menezes

00:41 10 Oct 25

First Name

00:04 10 Oct 25

A wonderful experience every time with 2 Sons plumbing. Jake and Angelo helped us with our plumbing issue. They showed up on time and gave a very reasonable estimate for the repair. We ended up replacing a couple of toilets and a part of a sink drain. They came back the next day to complete the work due to our schedule. Excellent communication, prompt, and hard working! Thank you so much Jake and Angelo!! We are very happy with 2 Sons and have used them multiple times.

First Name

00:04 10 Oct 25