Tenants' rights: Is there a maximum number of units per water heater? (home)

[jmk0004]

I live in a building built in the 1880s with four units (at two people each) in the front building and one in the coach house. I believe we have one water heater for the entire four-unit front building. I know the landlord is obligated to provide heat and "reasonable" hot water, but I don't know whether the situation below is "reasonable."

It's the dead of winter right now. For the past four or five weeks, 30% of the time I go to shower, there is barely enough hot water is coming out of the showerhead to take a shower. Some water just drips down because there's not enough flow, and streams only comes out of a third of the shower head. I can't turn on the cold water to increase the flow of water, because the cold totally overpowers what little hot water there is (plus, we have no bathroom fan, so I SHOULD have the window open for ventilation but absolutely can't when it's 0 degrees out and I have to take a lukewarm or cold shower). I have tried showering at 6-8 a.m. and 8-10 p.m., and there's no rhyme or reason. Today, I was home sick and tried to shower at 12 p.m., and barely any water came out. It was, frankly, infuriating to find that when no one is home (all tenants work during the day), this issue persists.

About 50% of the time, I get an OK flow. I get a pretty good shower (not as good as any other place I've ever lived) 20% of the time.

So is there a requirement for there to be certain hot water heater capacity per unit or building? I haven't had much luck finding that info, and I'm afraid that even if I do find requirements, my building will be grandfathered in. I'm also concerned that if some maintenance person or the landlord comes to look at the shower, it will be having a good day and they'll think I'm exaggerating.

[myrc60]

Have you called 311? They take heat complaints during winter and I bet they know the answer to your question too. Give it a try.