"SJP" wrote in message
...
Hi, lately it seems as though there's barely enough hot water to take a
shower. I went downstairs to observe the hot water heater...

-There's no sign that the water heater has 'blown up' like seems to happen
whenever my dad's water heater expires
-The heater has the date 1990 on it, which I presume to be it's
installation date.
-The heater is natural gas. I didn't notice any smell...
-The heater was warm to the touch
-It hasn't been very cold here lately.

Do these things just fade away? Or do they always go out with a bang?
How do I assess the situation?

Thanks
Steve



Have you been draining out the sediment regularly?....It could be that you
are trying to heat water through a "big layer of sludge"...Hook a hose up to
the drain valve and run it outside...see what comes out...who knows...you
might get a few more years out of it....If you see any rust....get rid of it
before it floods your home....good luck, Ross