Table of Contents
How many BTU do I need for a water heater?
A common input is 34,000 BTUs on a 40-gallon tank and 36,000 BTUs on a 50-gallon tank. The higher the BTU input and efficiency, the faster the recovery. Electric water heaters typically have one 5,500-watt or two 4,500-watt elements. Two lower-kilowatt elements will heat much faster than one higher-wattage element.
What size water heater do I need for a 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.
What does the BTU rating on a water heater mean?
Definition. A BTU is the quantity of heat needed to raise one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. More BTUs mean more heating power.
How do you size a water heater?
What Size Water Heater Do I Need? 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.
How many BTU does it take to heat a gallon of water?
One BTU is the amount of heat energy required to raise one pound of water by 1ºF. Water weighs 8.33 pounds per gallon so we can calculate that one gallon of water requires 8.33 BTU to raise the temperature 1ºF.
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 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 many BTU stove do I need?
For most users, one power burner (12,000 BTUs or higher) is more than adequate—especially when paired with two medium-strength burners and one low burner for simmering. If you do a lot of cooking that requires quick high heat, such as stir-frying or searing, you may want to push the power up.
What does Ultra Low NOx mean?
An Ultra Low NOx gas water heater is one that emits a lower level of nitrogen oxide than a standard gas water heater. Some states and municipalities have requirements and standards to limit the maximum amount of NOx emissions for gas water heaters – particularly certain counties in California and in the state of Utah.
What is a good recovery rate for a hot water heater?
Electric residential water heaters are generally considered to have a 100% recovery efficiency. This is because immersion style elements place all the heat into the water and there is no flue.
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.
What size hot water heater do I need for a family of 2?
In general, a 40- to 50-gallon tank is sufficient for an average household of 2 to 3 people, increasing by 10 gallons per additional person in the home. In a tankless water heater, the capacity is measured by flow rate, calculated in gallons per minute.
Is a 50 gallon water heater enough?
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.
How many BTUs does it take to heat 1000 gallons of water?
Heating a gallon of water thus requires 8.33 x 80 = 667 Btu’s, at 100% efficiency. therms to heat 1000 gallons. At $1.20 /therm, it costs 11.31 x $1.20 = $13.58 to heat 1000 gallons.
How many BTU does it take to heat 500 gallons?
Now that you have all the facts, apply the hydronic BTU formula: 500 x 5.4 Gallons X 15.8° = 42,660 BTU.
How many BTUs does it take to evaporate a gallon of water?
It takes 8,092 BTUs to evaporate one gallon of water. Natural gas has a heating value of 1,000 BTUs per cubic foot (1 Therm = 100,000 BTUs). Approximate cost of natural gas is $0.50 per Therm.
