Your water heater is one of those things you probably take for granted while it’s running properly. When you turn that faucet to hot, you expect hot water immediately. When you want to get in the shower, you surely want it to be a hot one. When you want to disinfect a load of laundry, hot water is key.
Hot water tanks are important, but not all heaters are the same. It’s why if you’re in the market for a new one, you need to do your homework to make sure that you’re selecting the one that’s right for you and your household’s needs.
Luckily, you don’t ever have to end up with the wrong water heater. You simply need to go through a series of steps to determine your actual needs and requirements before making the purchase.
Continue reading to learn how to select the right water heater
Water Heater Sizing — Why It’s Important
Want to get started with how to select the right water heater? The water heater that’s best for you is largely contingent on tank size.
Tanks store and heat hot water, then distribute it to the faucets and showerheads throughout the home when necessary. If you choose too small of a tank, then some members of your household might be taking cold showers in the morning. But if you select too large of a tank, then you’ll be paying more upfront for the appliance itself, not to mention more in utilities each month to run the water heater.
It’s estimated that water heaters account for nearly 17 percent of a home’s energy use, largely from what’s called “standby heat loss.” This occurs when the water heater works to heat the tank to keep the water inside warm for use. The larger the tank, the harder the heater will work to keep the tank water warm. It’s a big part of why proper sizing is so important.
Determining Water Heater Size
So how do you know what size of water heater is right for you?
Here’s a look at some of the questions you should be asking throughout the decision-making process:
- What’s the length of the longest shower that someone takes in your household?
- How many showers in your household are taken back-to-back?
- Do people in your household shower at the same time?
- How big is your largest bathtub in the home (and is it used for bathing regularly)?
- How much space do you have in the basement, crawl space or area where the water heater will be installed?
If there’s a greater demand for hot water, then you’re going to need a bigger hot water tank.
Consider these household scenarios as you make your decision.
Household 1
In this household, there is only one shower/bathtub, so there are never showers being taken simultaneously.
Shower length is moderate, usually less than 10 minutes, and baths are also occasionally taken, but in the evening hours. Showering is typically done in the morning.
This household would likely only require a smaller 30-40 gallon hot water tank to ensure that the hot water demand is adequately met.
Household 2
In this household, there are two working showers, and showers are often taken simultaneously.
Morning showers are also taken back-to-back, and length is moderate (the longest shower is usually 10-15 minutes).
This home would be best served with a larger 50-60 gallon tank to meet its demand.
Household 3
This is a home to a family of five, two adults and three school-aged children. Every member of the household showers in the morning, dividing between the home’s two working showers, and often taking back-to-back showers.
An ever larger 60-80 gallon water heater would best suffice for this household’s situation.
Tank vs. Tankless Water Heaters
While the household examples that we detailed above involve tank sizes, you can also consider a tankless model water heater as opposed to a conventional tank model.
Tankless water heaters are becoming popular because they provide on-demand water. In other words, they don’t store and heat water within a tank. Instead, whenever hot water is desired, it’s heated on-demand and distributed throughout the home.
Here’s a look at some of the key differences between tank and tankless heaters:
Cost
Tankless water heaters require a larger investment, sometimes costing up to three times more than a conventional tank model
Energy Efficiency
Despite the higher upfront cost of tankless water heaters, they can work up to 34 percent more efficiently than conventional tanks, largely because there’s no standby heat loss.
Space
If space is an issue, a tankless water heater is ideal thanks to its small footprint and ability to be installed right onto the wall of a basement, crawlspace or utility area.
Water heater tanks take up much more space and require proper ventilation if they run on gas.
Maintenance & Lifespan
Water heaters don’t have a particularly long lifespan. According to the DOE, tank heaters only last 10-15 years. With proper maintenance, such as annually flushing sediment buildup from the bottom of the tank, they may last longer.
Tankless water heaters, conversely, may last for more than 20 years, as they don’t have the same maintenance requirements that tank systems do.
Investing In The Right Water Heater For Your Household
Now that you know a bit about what to look for in the right water heater for your home, you can begin the process of searching for the best unit for your family’s needs.