
Should I buy a 40 or 50 gallon water heater?
A family size of two to three may benefit from a 40-gallon electric or gas water heater. A family size of three to four may benefit from a 50-gallon electric or 40-gallon gas heater. A household of five or more may benefit from an 80-gallon electric or 50-gallon gas water heater.
How much does it cost to replace a 40 gallon water heater?
The average cost to replace a 40-gallon water heater is between $500 and $2,000. This includes the cost of the new water heater and installation. Most companies remove the old water heater at no additional cost if you purchase the new one from them.
How much to replace a 50 gallon hot water heater?
Water heater replacement costs $600 to $1,800 for a tank or $800 to $3,500 for a tankless. A new 40- to 50-gallon hot water heater costs $330 to $2,000 for the unit alone, plus the plumber labor cost to install is $200 to $1,000. Gas water heaters cost $100 to $700 more than electric to install. Water heater installation cost - chart.
How many BTU for a 40 gallon water heater?
Recovery of gas-fired water heaters is a function of the BTU input and overall efficiency. Input ranges from about 32,000 on a 30-gallon unit to 88,000 on a 100-gallon tank. A common input is 34,000 BTUs on a 40-gallon tank and 36,000 BTUs on a 50-gallon tank.

Do I really need a 50 gallon water heater?
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.
Is a 40-gallon hot water heater enough?
What size of a house is a 40-gallon water heater good for? Based on typical water usage, a 40-gallon water heater should provide enough daily hot water for 2-4 people in a household.
Can I replace a 40-gallon water heater with a 50 gallon?
However, if your old water heater did not provide enough hot water, you can consider going with a larger unit—changing from a 40-gallon to a 50-gallon unit, for example, though there must be enough space for the larger heater, the flue size must be correct with proper pitch, and the supplied gas line must be adequate ...
Is it better to have one large water heater or two smaller ones?
Greater efficiency can be achieved by installing multiple, smaller tankless water heaters throughout the home. Hot water is then drawn from nearby tankless appliances instead of being lead through the home's entire plumbing system from basement to point-of-use.
Is a 40 or 50 gallon water heater better?
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. Energy consumption for 40 and 50 gallon standard water heaters is quite comparable.
How long of a shower can you take with a 40 gallon water heater?
On Average hot water should last about 20 minutes with a 40 gallon tank and 30 minutes with a 60 gallon tank. This is assuming that you run completely hot and don't mix it with cold. A hot water tank can produce about 2 gallons per minute.
How many showers can you take with a 50-gallon water heater?
On average, hand washing takes about two gallons, Running the dishwasher uses 14 gallons, bathing/showering per person is 20 gallons, and washing a load of laundry is 30 gallons. So if you're in a family of four, a 50-gallon water tank should cover all those showers and washings.
Which is better short or tall water heater?
Height does not diminish the unit's ability to produce hot water. Next to heating, cooling and refrigeration, your water heater comes in third place in terms of energy use and costs. As a general rule, you should take an "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" approach in selecting a tall or short water heater.
Does a larger water heater use more energy?
Buying too large a storage water heater will reduce energy performance by increasing the standby losses. If gas- or oil-fired, larger systems will also lose more heat up the flue.
How many gallons of hot water does a shower use?
Worksheet for Estimating Peak Hour Demand/First Hour Rating *UseAverage gallons of hot water per usageShower20=Shaving (.05 gallon per minute)2=Hand dishwashing or food prep (2 gallons per minute)3=Automatic dishwasher7=4 more rows
What size water tank do I need for a family of 4?
Start with Your Household Size So, for a family of 4–5 people, you will need to get a tank that is able to hold at least 50–60 gallons. For a family that is bigger than 5, you will need to look for tanks ranging up to 80 gallons.
What is the recovery time for a 50 gallon electric water heater?
For example, on a 50 gallon electric heater, if the maximum wattage input is 4500 watts, you would multiply 4500 by . 004; result, 18 gallons per hour recovery. Then divide 18 into the rated gallon capacity (50 gallons). Result would be 2.8 -- or approximately three hours operating recovery time.
Is a 30 gallon water heater enough for 2 people?
A 30 gallon water heater should be able to supply enough hot water to meet the needs of a household of 1 -2 people with only one bathroom. A good way of measuring your hot water requirements is calculate your peak hot water usage and compare it the first hour rating of a water heater.
Why does my water heater run out of hot water quickly?
Sediment is formed from loose minerals that are found naturally in water. When they settle at the bottom of the tank, it causes your tank to run out of hot water quickly. Sediment can be things such as sand, silt, or rust that take up space in your water tank. As a result, your hot water supply dwindles.
How big is a 40 gallon hot water heater?
40 Gallon Water Heater Dimensions This water heater is also often on the taller water heater heights. Such water heaters can have a height of 50 inches or 127 centimeters, while the diameter will range from 18 to 21 inches or 46 to 53 centimeters.
How long does it take to heat a 30 gallon water heater?
between 30 and 40 minutesThe average gas heater takes between 30 and 40 minutes to fully heat up the water in its tank.
What happens if you install a water heater that is too small?
If you install a heater that is too small, it won’t meet the needs of your home. Choosing a water heater that is too large will mean constantly running warm water that you’re not using. Like Goldilocks, you want one that is just right.
Can you wait until your water heater fails?
If you are in need of a new water heater, don’t wait until yours fails. Look over Service Whale’s water heater replacement services for New York, and give us a call for a consultation or more information today.
Do you need to replace a water heater?
Everyone needs to replace their water heater at some point in time. Whether you’re noticing signs of wear like reduced efficiency or whether your water heater has just failed explosively, out you’d rather not wait when the time comes to change it.
Can you put a water heater in the largest?
Choosing a Water Heater. You may think that simply putting in the largest heater will ensure that you always have hot water. To a point this can be true, but you can also cost yourself a lot of money and efficiency if you select one that is too large or too small.
Why is a 50 gallon water heater less expensive?
And, in the long run, the 50-gallon heater will actually cost less to operate because the tank's less likely to run out of hot water (and bringing a tank of cold water to operating temperature takes a lot of energy). ACEEE.
What is the energy factor of a water heater?
The Energy Factor. A number called the energy factor (EF) takes into consideration such factors as a water heater's recovery rate, standby losses and cycling losses. The recovery rate is a measure of how efficiently heat is transferred from the heat source to the water.
What is standby loss in water heaters?
Standby losses measure how much heat is lost from the water into the environment. The cycling losses measure how much heat is lost as the water circulates through the system. Combined, these losses make up the water heater’s energy factor (EF).
Is it cheaper to run a 50 gallon water heater than a 40 gallon water heater?
In essence, it could cost less to run a high-efficiency 50-gallon water heater than to run a standard 40-gallon water heater.
How many years would you go through a tankless water heater?
A simple flushing of the heater is not at all difficult. In 22 years, most people would go through at least 2-3 water heaters. That is additional savings beyond just the monthly savings from having tankless. It will save you money, but it will cost you more up front.
How long is a water heater warranty?
Consumers Reports recommends purchasing a water heater with a 12-year warranty. They say that models with the long warranties are built with better burners, longer-lasting anode rods, and often have thicker insulation.
How long does a 50 gallon water heater last?
A 50-gallon water heater will last about 8 to 20 years, which is a bit longer than most types of water heaters.
How much does a tankless water heater cost?
This is because tank-style water heaters can cost around $800 without installation and $2,800 with installation. Tankless water heaters can cost around $1,000 without installation and $5,000 with installation because they require a lot of fixing and rewiring.
Why use a tankless water heater?
Using a tankless water heater can help you conserve energy. Unlike tank-style water heaters, tankless water heaters only heat water when you need them to. Tank-style water heaters constantly supply hot water even when you don’t need it.
Do you need a water heater in the morning?
Water heaters are an essential part of every working American’s morning. Without water heaters, constant cold showers in the morning would be quite a dilemma. Water heaters prevent you from having to wake up extra early to boil water for a warm shower. But, choosing the best water heater can be quite a challenging task.
Is a 50 gallon water heater better than a 40 gallon water heater?
According to water heater experts, a 50-gallon water heater costs less to run than a 40-gallon water heater. Moreover, a 50-gallon water heater is more efficient than a 40-gallon heater.
Is a 50 gallon water heater good for the average American?
A 50 gallon water heater can be very convenient for the average American family. It makes your morning shower and many other daily activities much easier. It will likely cost you more than a smaller water heater, but the benefits will eventually make up for the initial cost with proper maintenance and utility.
