Hot water issues in 2 family house!!!

We live in a 2 family home. The landlord is downstairs. We pay half the water bill (probably not a whole lot of money). The landlord has a dish washer- run at least once a day, a washing machine-run at least 2 times a day, and a huge jacuzzi tub. There are 3 people living downstairs. One person showers once in the am and takes a bath in the pm everyday..When she takes a bath, she doesn't plug the tub and lets the hot water run the whole time. At least 20-30 minutes...

My hubby showers in the late morning/early afternoon and I bathe whenever I can get hot water. DS is 15 months old and gets a bath 3-4 times a week in his tub. I usually wait until later in the evening (after 9pm) to take a shower or bath so I get a chance to get some hot water. Tonight it was 10pm and I start the bath and I have no water pressure. I text my neighbor and ask what is going on. She was in the bath...Great...No hot water for a long time. She said she was done and I should be ok...I waited about 15 minutes and tried the water. It was actually hot and clear. But within a few minutes it was lukewarm and rusty!!! Happens every night...I don't think it is fair that we are paying for the water when we obviously don't use as much as they do and we very rarely have hot water... I need to do dishes and I can't because the water is warm and orange!! We have been here for 7 years and the last 2 years it has been bad. I am sick of calling down there to see who is taking a shower or bath and when can I bathe the baby or myself...I have kept quiet because it hasn't been too much of an issue, but now it is interfering with everyday life...Is there anything I can do???

Re: Hot water issues in 2 family house!!!

Maybe you can talk to the landlord about getting a hot water pack? It might make a difference in providing more hot water. They should be able to get one through their heat provider - I know my mom did it through Slomins.

She had one bath that almost never got hot water - thougt it was a pipe issue but when she got the pack installed she hasn't had a problem since.

I have also noticed in my house that if the heat is running, I don't get hot water - that might also be contributing to your problem

Re: Hot water issues in 2 family house!!!

Time to talk seriously to the landlord. He isn't going to do anything about it unless you do because it probably involves installing a new hot water heater which isn't cheap. You pay rent and part of that is for water...warm water, not cold and rusty water. I would use the baby as a strong argument. That you are not comfortable bathing him\her in that kind of water. Its not acceptable living conditions IMO.

Re: Hot water issues in 2 family house!!!

That is BS, your paying for water and not even getting hot water...you need to have a serious talk with your landlord and say if your not getting any hot water your not paying the bill next month. Sometimes you just have to put your foot down!

Re: Hot water issues in 2 family house!!!

That's totally unacceptable. You shouldn't have to pay for their excessive and maybe even wasteful habit of using water.

I'll say tell them your situation and if they don't remedy it (reducing your water bill, installing a bigger hot water heater tank or even converting one tank to two) then find another place to live.

I would be furious if that happen to me for a few months, let alone years!

Re: Hot water issues in 2 family house!!!

Thanks for all the input...I have been b!tching about it for years, but hubby won't say anything to them...He just rolls his eyes when it happens...We are actually looking to move in the next few months, so I am just going to deal with it for now. I plan on just doing all the showers and baths when they aren't home during the day. I told them from day one that it isn't fair that we pay half the water and don't have half the stuff they do. When I asked if I could put in a washing machine or DW they said NO!!!! I will tell him about how he can remedy the situation, but I don't think it will help...Thanks again for all the info..