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Why Does My Hot Water Run Out So Quickly?

There is hardly anything more frustrating than stepping into a warm shower but have the water turn cold halfway through. If your hot water doesn’t seem to last, you’re not alone. Many Seattle homeowners encounter this issue. While it may feel like your water heater just can’t keep up, there are often fixable reasons behind it.

At 2 Sons Plumbing Seattle, we’ve helped countless families restore reliable hot water to their homes. Knowing the cause is the first step toward a lasting solution, whether a simple repair or a full replacement.

Common Reasons Hot Water Runs Out Fast

When your hot water supply disappears too quickly, it usually comes down to one of these causes:

Dip tube failure – This small but important part directs cold water to the bottom of the tank. If it breaks, cold water mixes with hot and lowers the temperature.
Sediment buildup – Over time, minerals from Seattle’s water supply settle at the bottom of the tank. It reduces space for hot water and makes your heater seem less efficient.
Undersized tank – If your household has grown or you’re otherwise using more hot water than before, the tank may not be large enough now.

All these issues can be resolved. The key is figuring out which one you’re dealing with.

Simple Steps You Can Try

Before calling a plumber, there are a couple of easy things you can do on your own:

Flush the water heater every year – Removal of sediment helps the system run efficiently.
Set the temperature to 120°F – Any lower and you may not get enough hot water. Higher than that risks burns and wastes energy.

If these steps don’t solve the problem, there is a need to dig deeper. Warning signs like rust-colored water, visible leaks, or strange noises mean your system needs professional attention.

What Calling a Seattle Plumber Costs

Sometimes the fix is small, like replacing a dip tube, which typically costs $200–$500. Other times, the water heater itself may be nearing the end of its life. In Seattle, a new tank water heater usually runs to $1,200–$4,500, depending on size and installation needs.

Call a plumber if you notice:

Water that turns cold after just a few minutes.
Discolored or rusty water from hot taps.
Puddles or leaks near the base of your heater.

At 2 Sons Plumbing Seattle, our licensed team can quickly determine whether repair or replacement is the better option. We’ll walk you through your choices and handle everything from start to finish.

Reliable Hot Water Solutions in Seattle

Running out of hot water doesn’t have to be your “new normal.” With the right fix, your showers, laundry, and daily routines can be comfortable again. Homeowners trust 2 Sons Plumbing Seattle because we combine local experience with dependable service and straightforward communication.

Tired of running out of hot water too soon? Call 2 Sons Plumbing Seattle today at (206) 487-1757. Our experts will find the cause, fix the problem, and make sure you have hot water when you need it most.

2 Sons Plumbing, Electrical, Heating & Air

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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