This last week I took my boys camping, momma had to work. We get to the site the I turn on the hot water. Come dinner time when I'm washing the dishes I notice the Hot Water is only semi hot (perfect bath water but too cold to wash dishes type of deal) . So I go out and check the burner, it fires up right away burns for a 10 minutes, high flame, everything looks and sounds normal. I check the connections, everything is ok! I check the thermostats, take off the foam thingy, take them out work the spring, smell for fired electronics. Nothing. So I figure the cheapest thing to replace is the thermostats so I'll start there. I order new ones and have them over nighted to the CG. The next night I install the new ones, but the problem persists. So I resolve to take it in when we get back. My eight year old opens the cabinet where hot water heater is and points out that the valve that goes between the hot and cold water is OPEN, then he suggests that the cold water is probably mixing with the hot. I say nah I've never messed with that valve. My 4 year old starts giggling-- Tricked ya daddy! He's lucky it was only a 12 dollar part.
But he taught me a lesson check the simple stuff first, then integrate the kids.