QA

How Many Gallons Water Heater Do I Need

What size water heater do I need for family of 4?

For a four-person family, a 50-gallon water heater is sufficient. 50-gallons is good if you’re using electricity, and 40 gallons will work for natural gas or propane. Families with more than five persons may benefit from an 80-gallon electric water heater or 50-gallon gas water heater.

Is 40 gallon water heater enough for a family of 4?

Typically, the rule-of-thumb is that you want a 40 gallon tank for 1 to 4 people, a 50 gallon tank for 4 to 6 people, and a 50 gallon high recovery or 75 gallon tank for 6 to 8 people.

Is a 50 gallon water heater enough for a family of 5?

Water Heater Sizes The answer to this question will vary depending on the total number of kids you have. For example, a family of 3 to 4 people should purchase a 50 – 60 gallon water heater. On the other hand, a household with 5 – 7 people may require a water heater with a 60 – 80 gallon water tank.

What size water heater do I need for a family of 6?

For 1 to 2 people: 30-40 gallons. For 2 to 3 people: 40-50 gallons. For 3 to 4 people: 50-60 gallons. For 5+ people: 60-80 gallons.

Is a 10 gallon water heater enough for a shower?

Determining how much hot water your water heater should provide per shower depends largely on the size of your hot water tank. For instance, a typical shower uses about 10 gallons of hot water. So, if you have a 40-gallon hot water tank, you should be able to get four average-length showers out of your hot water tank.

Is a 20 gallon hot water heater big enough?

20-gallon water heaters are a unique size. They’re large enough for smaller homes that don’t require large amounts of hot water, yet they’re an excellent choice for high-demand point-of-use (POU) applications such as bathrooms with showers. The versatility of the 20-gallon size makes these heaters ideal for many uses.

How long will 40 gallons of water last?

A 40-gallon water heater can provide up to 2 showers in an hour (if you’re not using any other water appliances).

How many showers can you have in a 50 gallon tank?

If a water heater has a 50-gallon tank of fully-heated water, it should easily be able to supply enough hot water for a fifteen or twenty minute shower. Showers longer than that are unnecessary.

How long does it take for a 40 gallon water heater to run out of hot water?

A gas water heater will recover in half the time of an electric unit. A 40-gallon gas water heater can recover in about an hour. Recovery for a 40-gallon electric water heater takes about two hours.

Is there a big difference between a 40-gallon and 50-gallon water heater?

The Energy Factor The cycling losses measure how much heat is lost as the water circulates through the system. With the energy factors being equal, the difference in cost of running a 50-gallon heater over a 40-gallon heater is essentially insignificant.

How big of a hot water heater do I need for a family of 5?

If your family size is 5 or more, you’ll need an 80-gallon tank (electric) or a 50-gallon tank (natural gas or liquid propane).

How do I calculate what size water heater I need?

For a square or rectangular roof, the area calculation is simple: Length (in metres) x Width (in metres) = Roof area (in square metres). Obviously, the larger your roof, the more rainwater you can harvest.

Can you replace a 30 gallon water heater with a 40-gallon?

Both 30- and 40-gallon water tanks are on the small end and work best for only a few people. A 30-gallon tank would generally be enough for one or two people. A family of three to four will likely need a 40-gallon water heater, but you might need a larger tank if you use a lot of hot water.

How long should a 30 gallon water heater last?

While today’s water heaters are better designed than older models, they still require regular maintenance in order to prolong their lives. With regular inspection, draining, and flushing, you can expect a gas water heater to last anywhere from 8-12 years and an electric water heater to last anywhere from 10-15 years.

How long should I have hot water with a 50 gallon tank?

A 50-gallon hot water heater with 5,500-watt elements set to 120 degrees takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes to heat water coming in to the unit at 60 degrees. Conversely, when the water entering this same tank is 40 degrees, it takes 1 hours, 47 minutes to heat it up.

How long will a 12 gallon water heater last?

Based on the manufacturer’s suggested service life, the life expectancy of a water heater is about eight to 12 years. That varies with the location and design of the unit, quality of installation, maintenance schedule and water quality.

Why do I only have 10 minutes of hot water?

The water heater tank size is too small for your household. Your hot water heater is tankless. Sediment or minerals have built up in your water heating system. Individual parts inside the hot water heater unit are damaged or worn.

What should my water heater be set on?

120 degrees Fahrenheit is the safety recommendation against scalding, but 140° is the common default setting. Most experts agree that anything below 120 degrees creates a risk for bacteria to develop inside your water heater from stagnant water, such as legionella that causes Legionnaire’s disease.