What Size Water Heater Do You Need in West Friendship & Howard County, MD?

Here’s the fast and correct answer:  you need a professional plumber to calculate what size water heater you need as there are numerous factors involved, such as:

• Storage tank or tankless?
• Burner or element heating?
• Number of people in your family?
• How much hot water is needed during periods of peak demand?
• And so on?

Also, the condition of your current water heater is one determining factor, especially if you haven’t had it serviced on an ongoing basis.  So, for example, if the same 40 gallon storage tank water heater that was more than adequate ten years ago isn’t adequate for peak demand periods now, you probably think you need a bigger replacement unit.  But in reality, you probably don’t if you’re using roughly the same amount of hot water now as you were then.  That’s because, over the years, it’s likely your system’s output has gradually diminished due to internal corrosion and built-up sediment inside the tank.

In short, a new 40-gallon storage tank system might be perfect for you once again.

On the other hand, peoples’ hot water demands tend to change over time, especially a span as long as ten years.  So your plumber, when helping you choose the right size water heater for you, needs to determine your “First Hour Rating,” which is the greatest amount of hot water needed in any one of the twenty-four hours in a day.

Here’s a handy guide from the U.S. Department of Energy to help you determine what size storage tank system you might need today.

Worksheet for Estimating Peak Hour Demand/First Hour Rating *

EXAMPLE

At Your 1 Plumber, we help families like yours upgrade to exactly the right size and type of new water heater every day.  And, of course, we’d ready and happy to do the same for you.  Call today to schedule a free in-home proposal and quote.