This article was found on www.homeadvisor.com and written by Jon Nunan.
Hot water is one of the many modern conveniences that a lot of us take for granted. When your hot water heater is not functioning properly or is simply not able to meet the demands of your household, however, we quickly remember what a luxury warm water can be. If your hot water heater is on the fritz, or you are thinking of upgrading to a larger unit, there are a few things to think about before you purchase a new one.
Conventional Hot Water Heater Sizes
Hot water heaters come in three basic sizes for homes. Most residential settings will employ a 30-, 40- , or 50-gallon unit, though you can find larger ones if necessary. You can find out how large your current tank is by looking at the nameplate. A good rule of thumb is that you can usually replace your old one with a new one of the same capacity unless you've recently added a bathroom, dishwasher or washing machine, or are planning a new addition or appliances in the near future. You might also want to take advantage of the newer, more energy-efficient models.
In general, your hot water needs can be measured by the number of bathrooms in your house. The smallest size hot water heater for a one-bathroom house should be 30 or 40 gallons, in either gas or electric. For a 1 1/2-bath house, 40 gallons is the minimum. For a 2- to 3 1/2-bath house, choose a 50-gallon gas heater or a 66- to 80-gallon electric one.
Electric Water Heaters
Electric water heaters are likely to take longer to heat water than most gas water heaters, so an electric hot water tank should be bigger than its gas-fired counterpart, especially for households with many members or larger than average hot water needs. For a large, four-bath house or a home with an extra-large bathtub, get a 75-gallon gas heater or a 120-gallon electric heater. Some circumstances can skew these standards; for example, a laundry-heavy family with small children or a house with an especially large bathtub will mean much higher hot water use than normal.
