Hot water insufficient

[123peanut]

My son is having a problem getting enough hot water. He has an older gas water heater that had been working fine until a couple of weeks ago, could not get enough hot water without turning the temperature control all the way up. I'm thinking it may be the thermocouple ? I had a similar problem a few years ago but it turned out to be a leak in the hot water line under the slab. I have also had the thermocouple problem as well.

 

[Redwood]

It's not a thermocouple...

It could be another slab leak is the water heater running almost constantly even when hot water is not being used?

it could be a bad t-stat as well

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Jadnashua]

What is the temperature of the water when first used? Is this electric or gas? If it starts out okay and quickly cools off, it could be cross-over - the dip tube could be broken up and essentially no-existent. How old is the unit?

 

[Redwood]

Could be a bunch of stuff...
But not the thermocouple...

 

[123peanut]

Thanks for all the suggestions. Whatever the problem was, it has stabilized and he does not want to pay someone at this point to inspect it.