nope, its not the builders problem. a 50 gallon heater should be plenty for
a "normal" family (I'm assuming that you're in a 3-6 bedroom home). Some
places have a spec for gallons/bedroom for hot water heaters, but most
don't.
If you bought hte house knowing that there was a 50 Gal HW heater, and
its operating properly, the builder doesn't really have any responsibility.

If its really a problem for you, either spread out your HW usage, or get
another heater. There are heaters that recharge faster than electric. You
can also get a HW heater installed right att eh tub - they only heat water
when you run the hot water - there's no tank. I think they're called
something like "tankless hot water heaters" or somesuch. great when you have
a need for lots of haot water in place, but don't want to have to keep a ton
of water sitting around hot when you don't need it.
For example: if you're going to draw 3 or 4 bathtubs of water in a one
or two hour time period, but the rest of the time you don't use tohns of hot
water, you've got a need for lots of hot water fast when the kids are taking
their baths, but the rest of the time, your current HW heater is plenty. You
*could* go buy a 100 gallon hot water heater, and pay for the energy to keep
all that water hot all the time. Or you could install a tankless heater in
the tub water supply, and have all the hot water you could ever use at the
tub (this would also disconnect the tub from your main hot water
heater...... More energy efficient, and probably about the same cost as
upgrading to a bigger HW heater.

Another option would be to turn up the temperature on your existing heater.
Be really carefull though - espescially with kids - you can set it hot
enough to cause some pretty bad burns.


Good luck

-JD

"Jim" wrote in message
om...
The builder of our new home (we bought after 95% completed)has
installed a 50 gallon electric water heater in a house that has 3.5
baths. Our house is less than 3 months old. We soon noticed that we
were running out of hot water after two baths and a shower. We have 3
small kids, so the baths were close together.

I have tried to convince the builder that the electric water heater
needs to be a minimum of 66 gallons, but more like 88 when you
consider a washing maching, dishwasher and jacquzi tub. I've done the
research and followed the calculation method, but the builder is not
willing to do anything about it after several conversations and
providing them with the calculation method.

I even called several local plumbers hoping that would influence the
builder (we've moved in from out of town). I don't know what else to
do beside spreading out the showers, baths, clothes washing and
dishwasher times, which is something my wife is not willing to
do....yet! We feel the builder should replace the water heater with a
more sizeable one. The argument from the builder is that this is what
they install in all their house (apparently regardless of size and the
fact that this one is electric and the rest of the new neighborhood is
gas). Also they said that the one we have now could not be installed
in another new house as the warranty would not be valid.

What can I do besides buying one myself at my cost? Is this my problem
or the builders?

What help can anyone provide?

Thanks...Jim