If you’re in the market for a new water heater, you may not exactly know what you’re looking for. What size water heater do you need? Which type of water heater should you purchase? In this blog, we break down the common types of water tanks and what size is best for you and your family's needs.
Common Types of Water Heaters
- Storage Tank Water Heater - It has an insulated tank that stores hot water until needed. This is the most common type of water heater, but you are limited to how much hot water you can hold. These water heaters are available in gas and electric models.
- Tankless Water Heaters - Also called on-demand water heaters, this kind of heater consists of super-heated coils that provide fresh hot water when it's needed. It has no tank. These heaters are more efficient but you need to make sure you purchase the right size for your household. A smaller tankless water heater will not be able to keep up with your water usage
- Heat Pump Water Heater - These water heaters use heat in the air and the ground to heat water. Since they only use electricity to move heat from the ground/air to the water, they use up to 60% less electricity than traditional water heaters.
- Solar Water Heating System - This water heater uses roof-mounted solar panels as its energy source. The system consists of a storage tank and a solar collector. The downside is that it does require a backup (electricity or gas) in case the water heater can't run on cloudy days.
What Size Water Heater Do You Need?
No one wants to take a cold shower or have high energy costs. Choosing the right size water heater is important. A water heater that is too big will lead to high energy costs. But one that is too small will make it impossible to have enough hot water. residential tank water heaters range from 20- to 80-gallon capacities. Generally speaking, 30 gallons is good for a 1-2 person household. You can increase by 10 gallons per additional person in the home.
Gallon Capacity Recommendations:
- Family of 1 to 2: 30 gallons
- Family of 2 to 3: 40 gallons
- Family of 3 to 4: 50 gallons
- Family of 5+: 80 gallons
---
With licensed, trained, and insured technicians in Westchester County, New York, homeowners can count on A. Borrelli to handle their heating, cooling, and plumbing needs expediently. At A. Borrelli, we do HVAC and plumbing right, so call us at (914) 301-7495 today!
