If you are looking for a new water heater, we know it can get confusing to know what size you need. As plumbers in Dallas, we are going to help you figure out how much hot water your household needs and then follow that by talking about your water heater options.
How Much Hot Water You Use
If your family is like most families, then you probably use quite a lot of hot water. One way to estimate how much hot water you’ll need is to consider how many people are in your household and how long they spend doing things like showering or brushing their teeth. Logically, the longer the showers, the more water that will be used.
Another factor to this is whether or not there are large appliances that require high volumes of hot water for bathing and cleaning tasks (like dishwashers). If there are, then those appliances will add significantly to your daily usage totals as well.
If you are looking for a more precise estimate of your hot water usage, there are a few things that can help. The first is to take note of how many people are in the house at any given time and how often they use hot water. Then just go ahead and keep track of each person’s daily usage. You can also read your day to day water meter or look at your end of the month report. Most water utility companies do a good job breaking down your water usage throughout the month.
Electric Hot Water System
Electric hot water systems are easy to install and can be installed in almost any location. Electric water heaters also offer a small amount of flexibility with regard to their size and settings. Some have the ability to adjust the temperature of your hot water, while others have a large tank that will remain at one temperature for up to 12 hours after you turn it off.
This type of heater is typically much smaller than gas-powered models, but they do tend to be more expensive upfront—though there are often incentives available for purchasing an electric model over another type of heater (such as tax credits). If you are looking for something affordable and easy-to-install, this might be the right choice for you!
Right now, one of the most popular types of water heaters is an electric tankless model. It heats up water as you need it, which means no energy is wasted heating water that sits in your pipes for hours or days at a time. If you’re looking to save money on your water bill, an electric water heater could be the right choice for you. They are relatively affordable and easy-to-install—but they do have some downsides that make them less desirable than other types of heaters.
Gas Water Heater
Gas water heaters are the most efficient because they use natural gas, which is the most common type of fuel. Natural gas also burns cleanly and provides a high level of energy efficiency. The main drawback of a gas water heater is that it costs more to install than an electric model, but many homeowners find that it pays for itself over time with lower monthly bills.
The average lifespan for a gas unit is about 10 years, so if you’re thinking about installing one during your next remodel or home improvement project, be sure to include its replacement in your budgeting process as well!
If you’re looking for a way to save money and energy, you may want to consider a solar water heater. These units use the sun’s rays to heat your water and require no electricity. They’re a good option if you live in an area where access to natural gas is limited or expensive.
Tankless Water Heaters
Tankless water heaters are one of the best ways to go when it comes to conserving energy, but they’re also a bit more expensive than traditional models. The reason for this is that they don’t store hot water in a tank; instead, they heat up water on demand as you need it.
This type of heater has a higher initial cost than conventional units (about $600 for an electric model and $2,000 for gas), but since these systems never cool down or waste any power, you can save thousands of dollars over time in both operating costs and energy consumption. Additionally, since tankless heaters run continuously when you need them and don’t store any excess heated water from previous uses like conventional models do—they’re able to deliver much more hot water per minute than regular tanks would ever be able to supply.
If you’re looking for a way to save money on your water heating costs, tankless heaters are definitely worth it. They’re also great for people who live in areas where homes aren’t properly insulated, since they can provide an endless supply of hot water without wasting any of it.
How Much Hot Water the System Produces Per Hour
To determine how much hot water you need per hour, divide the number of people in your household by two. That is the minimum amount of hot water each person needs to have access to during an average day. So for example, if you have a family of four, then each person would need at least 2 gallons per day, or 8 gallons total. If all members of your family plan on taking long showers or baths on any given day (we are all guilty of this now and then!), this calculation will be too low and you will need more gallons per person. Maybe this information will help you understand why is my sewer bill so high.
Household Size and Local Hot Water Demand
Though the size of your household is a factor in determining how big of a water heater you need, it’s not the only one. Local hot water demand can also affect your decision. Hot water use per person varies depending on the number of people in your household and how often they take showers or baths, wash dishes and clothes, etc. With this in mind, we’ve provided some general guidelines for typical hot water usage rates:
- 0 – 5 Gallons/Month = 1-2 Gallon Tank Size
- 5 – 10 Gallons/Month = 3-5 Gallon Tank Size
- 10 – 15 Gallons/Month = 6-10 Gallon Tank Size
- 15+ Gallons/Month = Minimum 10 Gallon Capacity
If you have a large family, then you’ll want to choose a tank that has enough capacity to meet their needs. On the other hand, if your household is small and only has one or two people living in it, then a smaller tank might be enough. A water heater is an essential part of every home. It provides hot water for all your needs and is a great investment that you should consider before making any other large purchases for your home in the future. Remember that you can visit our post about how long does a water heater last.
Thank you once again for joining us for another blog here at Metro-Flow Plumbing! As always, we hope you were able to walk away from this one knowing a little something more about the plumbing world. Please feel free to explore our brand new website and we’ll see you next time, Dallas!
