Water Heater Questions (apartment, tenants, floor)

[Gemini365i]

Hello everyone.

Just to give you a background. I moved into this new Apartment here in East orange NJ back in January. It all looked nice and is not bad, so far.

The only thing is the duration on the water temperature.
If anyone here is like me, I like to take along showers. 30 minutes or more.

Each apartment in the building has a 40 Gallon heater.

After 30 minutes, the water goes completely cold. I was told this is normal, and there is nothing that can be done about it.

It's an AO Smith heater. I would like to know is this true?

Also the pressure for the hot water IN THE TUB, when turned to the max is significantly decreased (like a lil stream). I was also told there is nothing that can be done, and that everything is controlled by the water heater from the Super.

Some other tenants are having the same issues, and many more. Some peple have full pressure, others don't. The super told me, maybe because of the floor they are on...lol

Do I have any leg room here, or must I just move?

I need knowledge from someone who knows about Water Heaters and how the operate.

Is there a main control somewhere that can be set for the entire building?

Thanks,
JE

[camaro69]

I'm guessing you're not paying the water bill?

And yes it is normal for the hot water to go cold after 30 minutes or more.

[Mightyqueen801]

I guess the point that 30-minute hot showers are a waste of our energy resources would be lost on you?

But on a less-idealistic note, if you aren't paying for the water or the gas that heats it, you really don't have much to say about it.

[carlo2009]

I believe with a 40 gal water heater, you got 16 minutes to take a shower with the hot/cold water mixture (more hotter less time to use). It runs around 2.5 gallons per minute.

Need bigger tank or move I suppose.

[joe moving]

Gemini yes this sounds about right. If you have a 40 gallon tank and like carlo said drain it at 2.5 Gallons per minute that is 16 minutes.

There are a few things you COULD do .

Take shorter showers. 30 minute shower seems excessive.

You could get a different shower head that flows less water.... say 1.5 or 2.0 gallons per minute instead of 2.5.

If you have access to the heater, you could turn the temperature of the hot water UP, so that you are mixing more cold water in to get your desired temperature.