A customer is complaining of inadequate hot water recovery for their family of five, despite having a 150 L (40 US gallon) electric water heater. They frequently run out of hot water after two consecutive showers. What is the most appropriate initial recommendation to improve their hot water supply?

Question: A customer is complaining of inadequate hot water recovery for their family of five, despite having a 150 L (40 US gallon) electric water heater. They frequently run out of hot water after two consecutive showers. What is the most appropriate initial recommendation to improve their hot water supply?

Answer options: ✅ Suggest installing a larger capacity water heater or an on-demand unit.

• Advise them to decrease their shower time to conserve hot water.
• Propose insulating their hot water pipes to reduce heat loss.
• Recommend replacing the cold water inlet valve to increase flow.

Correct answer: Suggest installing a larger capacity water heater or an on-demand unit.

Explanation: Running out of hot water after two consecutive showers for a family of five suggests that the current 150 L tank is undersized for their demand. Increasing tank capacity or switching to a tankless (on-demand) unit would directly address the insufficient hot water volume. While pipe insulation is good practice, it wouldn't solve a fundamental capacity issue. Shower time reduction is a behavioural change, not a plumbing solution.