While selecting a new water heater, except from deciding on the water heater fuel type, model and brand, another important factor to consider is your water heater size. If your current heater does not provide enough heat for your home, think about upgrading to a bigger unit. This will also be relevant if you plan to start a family soon or expect your current family growth in the nearest future. To appropriately size your new water heater, you need to get familiar with some water heater sizing basics.
When choosing the size of your water heater, determine your required FHR (or first hour rating). A water heater’s FHR shows how much hot water is provided per hour during the peak usage period. This number can be found on the water heater’s Energy Guide label.
Also figure out the amount of hot water your home needs on the busiest one hour of any given day. You can quickly calculate it using the following figures:
Do not forget that your children are growing (in this way using more water) and other issues like resale value and other water fixtures that can increase your water needs in the future. The size of your replacement heater will be greatly determined by the derived number.
The type of your water heater also affects the size of your water heater.
Tankless water heaters
Tankless water heaters are also called demand water heaters. Unlike conventional units that store water and keep it hot, tankless systems deliver hot water on demand. Tankless water heaters are rated and sized according to the temperature rise needed at a predetermined flow rate. The flow rate (gallons per minute) is determined by the number of rooms in your home where you’ll be running water simultaneously.
Solar water heaters
Solar water heater sizing involves several aspects. The number of your family members will largely determine the size of the storage tank. Commonly, an 80-gallon tank is used for three to four people. That same household will require a collector area of about 55 square feet. The amount of sun your collectors receive should be considered as well.
Storage water heaters
Storage water heaters have first-hour ratings, in other words the amount of hot water a unit can provide in an hour if its tank is full. Your peak-hour demand is defined by the number of your family members and what time of day you use the most hot water. This hot water demand is crucial in figuring out the size of your water heating system.
Even in California’s warm climate, hot water is required to stay comfortable in your own home. To provide your family with plenty of hot water without worrying about wasting energy while heating it, you’ll need to properly size your new water heater.
The water heater specialist will make sure you find the unit that will suit your particular water heating needs. For over 50 years Norwalk Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning has been serving the citizens of Norwalk. Contact us and we will help you pick the right size of your new water heater.
Norwalk/La Mirada, CA 91766 | (562) 219-4085
