So, the time has come to get a new water heater! You may wonder if the old one was the right size and if not – what size should the new water heater be?

When you go to purchase a water heater you will see that they range from 23 gallons capacity all the way to 56 gallons – so how do you choose the right size?

Choosing The Right Size Water Heater

The easiest way to determine the right size water heater for your household is by the number of people living in the home and the amount of water being used.

  • 1 or 2 people – choose 23 to 36 gallons
  • 2 to 4 people – choose 36 to 46 gallons
  • 3 to 5 people – choose 46 to 56 gallons
  • More than 5 people – start with 56 gallon tank and add 10 gallons per additional person

Most households with 4 people have a 40 gallon water heater but of course, if you do several loads of laundry daily or if everyone in your home takes long showers or you use alot of water for gardening then you will want to increase the size of the water heater that you purchase.

We recommend you speak to your plumber about the amount of hot water usage in your home and he/she will be able to help you to choose the best size water heater for your needs.

If You Decide To Install A Tankless Water Heater

If you want to purchase a larger tank but it won’t fit in the physical space – then you may want to consider a tankless water heater.

All reports indicate that tankless water heaters are the most efficient overall. The U.S. Department of Energy has estimated that tankless units can be 24% – 34% more energy efficient in homes that use 41 gallons or less of hot water daily. Tankless units run at 90% – 98% efficiency.

The size of the tankless unit you choose will depend on four factors:

  1. The size of your family
  2. How much hot water you use
  3. The amount of space you have to mount your unit.
  4. The climate you live in. Gas tankless heaters work better than electric in cold climates. Here in Atlanta, Ga we do sometimes get very cold weather but we are fortunate that it does not last long so either an electric or gas tankless unit will work very well in our region.

Know that a 2.6 GPM (gallons per minute) model can heat 1 shower at a time.
A 4.0 GPM model can heat 1 shower and 1 sink at a time.
A 6.0 GPM model can handle heating 2 showers at a time.

If you have any questions about your water heater or are having problems with it, call Atlantis Plumbing today at 770-505-8570. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.