When buying a water heater, many people ask themselves a number of questions.
One of the most common questions is, “how much water does a water heater hold?” Size is one element that ultimately guides your choice. Choose something with heating capability and capacity to cater to your household needs.
The goal is to spend money on something that can supply you with enough hot water for your home. You’ll never go wrong with getting the right water heater size. Maintenance is easy, especially when you opt for plumbing services from Clover Services.
A tankless electric hot water heater heats water more effectively than a tank-type water heater. You’ll also learn the recommended water heater capacity for a specific household.
How Much Water Does a Tankless Water Heater Hold on Average?
But before looking at the tank-type water heater, you should note that the tankless water heater doesn’t hold any water. The heating mechanism for a tankless water heater prevents it from holding water. It heats water as it flows through the pipes outlets.
A tankless heater might heat more water than a tank-type water heater. The flow rate in a tankless water heater determines the water output. It’s best to get it in a sizable design to ensure efficiency in your household.
How Much Hot Water Does a Water Heater Hold on Average?
The size of a water heater is usually in gallons, and the exterior dimensions of the water holding area. There are two ways of looking at the capacity of a water heater. It takes you to examine the recommended height for heaters for various plumbing connections.
Short Water Heaters
Short water heaters have shorter heights but are wide, with enough room to hold the same amount of water as large water heaters. Consider getting a short water heater if you have a fitting space for it with limited headroom.
These heaters are suitable for installation under cabinets and in crawl spaces. The size of a short water heater is 30-49 inches tall and can hold up to 50 gallons of water.
Tall Water Heaters
On the other hand, tall water heaters can accommodate up to 100 gallons of water and measure between 50 and 76 inches tall. Unlike short water heaters, tall water heaters are ideal for installation with plenty of space, such as the basements or garages.
You must consider whether it allows a pipe’s connection on top of the tall water heater unit. It’s suitable for a household with a large family as it has a large capacity.
What’s The Recommended Capacity for a Household to Use a Water Heater?
Consider your household size when choosing a water heater depending on capacity. A 20 – 40 gallon can cater to a one or two-person household, while a four-person home needs a 40 to 50-gallon water heater. If your home has five or more people, then you will have to look into getting a heater with a 50-gallon capacity or more.
Anything above 50 gallons is suitable for installation in an industrial setting. Instead of using guesswork to determine how much water a water heater holds, you can look for the manufacturer’s label on the side of the heater.
How Much Water Do You Need At One Time?
Knowing how much water heaters hold determines how much water you need. Typically 40 gallons of water is enough for two showers in an hour. Although that is the case, you still have to consider how long your showers are and where else water is under use.
For instance, clothes consume an average of 25 gallons of water per use, and a shower consumes 10 gallons per use. Also, the dishwasher consumes about 6 gallons of water per use, and the kitchen uses about 2 gallons a minute.
Limit your appliance use and take shorter showers for the water in your heater to last you longer. Your activities affect how much water is left in your water heater.
Problems That Could Cause Your Water Heater to Run Out Of Water Faster
You may be wondering, “How much water does a water heater hold?” because you have noticed that it is running out of water too fast. Typically, waste running out faster than expected indicates a problem with your water heater.
Examine your heater as often as possible to identify some problems early. Consider scheduling an appointment with a professional when you can’t fix something.
Here are some problems you might encounter.
Sediments Build Up In the Water Heater
As you look into possible reasons why your water heater runs out of water faster, consider that water carries particles. If you were to open your water heater, you would notice it has some build-up.
Sediment build-up eventually occupies space meant for water, reducing the amount of water your heater holds. Luckily, flashing can help to remove the sediment build-up. You can do it yourself or seek help from a professional plumber.
Old Water Heater
A water heater can develop problems more frequently as it gets old. It’s like an engine that requires frequent maintenance and repairs. Even after repairing and maintaining an old water heater, it might not work as well as it once did when still new.
So, how old is your water heater? Your heater is too old if you have had it for 10 years or more. It would be best if you considered replacing it to get better results.
Issues with the Thermostat
The thermostat in a water heater may be small, but it controls the water temperature. It may malfunction and break down over time, compromising the heater’s ability to heat water. You can catch such an issue early if you have a plumber examine it often.
Final Words
If you were wondering, “How much water does a water heater hold,” it’s now evident that you know the answer. The bottom line is that your water usage behavior in your household determines the amount of hot water in your tank at a time. Get a tank that can handle your entire household’s hot water needs.
