what size of water heater does your family need?

What Size of Water Heater Does Your Family Need?

By Chris Turn

Until we run out of hot water, we often don’t realize how integral a water heater is to the house. You need a water heater in order to supply your household with hot water both for your morning shower and your cup of coffee. But what size of water heater does your family need? It’s tricky to know what size you need since you want it to be as cost-effective as possible. However, how do you know what size is too much, and what size is too little?

Types of Hot Water Heaters

It’s worth knowing what types of water heaters exist in order to understand what you might need for your home. There are three types: a storage tank water heater, a solar water heating system, and a tankless water heater.

A storage tank water heater is likely to be the most common type of water heater that is found in most households. These are traditional and have an insulated tank that stores the hot water until it’s needed. 

There are electric and gas models available depending on your home’s needs and capabilities. They are great for larger households, and why many will tend to opt for it as their chosen water heater.

With solar water heating systems, you have a storage tank and a solar collector. You will find that there are two types of solar water heating systems to choose from, and these are active and passive. The active have circulating pumps and controls, whereas the passive uses neither.

And finally, the tankless water heater. This is a much newer version of water heater systems, and although they are more expensive, they have a lot more energy-efficient qualities. 

Sizes & Calculations 

So now that you know what options are available, what size is needed? These can vary from household to household, but the basic rule to go by is that one or two-person households will likely need 30 to 40-gallon water heaters. For households that have three or four people, it will be a 40 to 50-gallon water heater. 

For those with larger households than that, you’re going to want to head upwards of 50-gallon. It’s worth taking a look at your current water heater and assessing whether this is enough. If it’s too small, then you’ll want to get one that’s bigger.

Contact The Water Heater Company

Depending on your area, the size of the family, and of course, what you can afford to pay, it’s important to speak to someone with the professional knowledge of water heaters. The Water Heater Company in Mar Vista offers installation, repair, and maintenance services to ensure every household they work with, has the best water heater for them. It’s good to use the services of a company that specializes specifically in water heater systems and that has over 25 years of experience in the trade. 

If you’re looking to change your water heater system or just have a query on what size is right for you, get in touch with The Water Heater Company today!