Is the water heater in your Carrollton home on its last leg? Have you started planning for a new water heater installation? Are you ready to upgrade your water heater to save money and improve access to hot water?
If the answer is yes, then you will need to ensure your new water heater is the appropriate size for your Carrollton residence. Failing to install a water heater that’s the right size for your home will cost you hundreds in wasted energy and have you dealing with frequent cold showers.
The experts at Sirius Plumbing and Air Conditioning are here to help. We have created this simple guide that outlines everything you need to know about water heater sizing. Read on to learn how to properly size your new water heater.
How Is a Water Heater Sized?
Before you can find the size of water heater you need for your Carrollton home, it’s important to understand how water heaters are classified in the first place. Sizing methods do vary depending on the type of water heater you’re installing.
If you are shopping for a traditional tank storage heater, then the first hour rating (i.e. the number of gallons of hot water the heater can supply per hour) and overall size are most important. The amount of water that the tank can store is denoted in gallons. As you might have guessed, larger households need a tank with a higher capacity. Generally, you can assume you’ll need 10-12 gallons per person on a regular basis.
In terms of the first hour rating, two tanks with the same storage capacity can have different first hour ratings. If multiple people in your household all need to shower at about the same time, opt for the tank with a higher FHR to ensure that everyone has plenty of hot water.
Tankless heaters are a bit simpler to size. For these devices, size is based on GPM, or gallons per minute. The larger your household, the more GPM you will need.
The Importance of Proper Water Heater Sizing
As you can see, buying a water heater that’s the right size for your needs and home is relatively simple once you understand how they are sized. However, many homeowners still make the mistake of buying the wrong size water heater for their Carrollton homes. This occurs when people underestimate their hot water usage or opt for a lower FHR.
The biggest downfall of having an undersized tank water heater is that there will not be enough hot water to go around. This is far from the only problem, though. An undersized water heater will be pulling extra duty trying to keep up with the household demands for hot water. This can shorten the life of your unit and require frequent water heater repairs.
Having an undersized tankless water heater can cause even more headaches. While it will be able to consistently produce hot water, its flow rate will be diminished. Your normally roaring stream of hot water may be reduced to a trickle if your tankless system is too small. This can make simple tasks like washing your hair or cleaning dishes incredibly tedious.
Can I Just Buy an Oversized Water Heater?
In light of all the problems that come with an undersized heater, you’re probably considering a gigantic water heater that far exceeds your needs, right? While you will never experience a hot water shortage if you have an oversized heater, you will experience plenty of other issues.
If you buy an oversized tank storage water heater, it will warm way more water than you need. Even if you have an appropriately sized tank storage water heater, these systems are among the most energy draining in your home. If you intentionally install an oversized unit, expect your energy bill to skyrocket.
Not only will you lose money in the long run, but your upfront cost will be higher. Larger models are notably more expensive. The best approach is to simply find the perfect size hot water heater for your Carrollton home.
Benefits of a New Water Heater
If you take the time to properly size your new water heater, it will pay dividends for years to come. There are many benefits to a new, high-quality water heater that fits your home perfectly. They include:
Improved Energy Efficiency
As water heaters age, they become less efficient. A new, modern water heater will significantly improve your home’s energy efficiency, which will save you money. Who doesn’t want to reduce their monthly utility bill?
If you really want to up the ante, consider a tankless water heater. While these units are more expensive to install, they last longer than tank storage heaters. They do not store water but instead produce it when you turn on the faucet. Since they are not constantly reheating a huge tank of water, they use less energy.
No More Cold Showers
Put a stop to cold showers and hot water shortages with a new water heater installation. Your updated unit will provide plenty of hot water for every member of your household— as long as you get the right size, of course. Your hot water heater is a great investment that will pay for itself many times over and produce the right amount of hot water at the right rate.
Is Water Heater Installation a DIY Project?
Sizing your water heater can definitely be a DIY task, but what about the installation itself? While many home projects can be handled by the weekend warrior with a garage full of power tools, water heater installation should absolutely be left to the pros.
Your home’s hot water heater uses either high-voltage electrical lines or a natural gas supply to operate. No matter which type of water heater is installed in your home, handling these devices without professional training can be dangerous. A single misstep could result in electric shock or a potentially fatal gas leak.
Skip the DIY approach and contact a licensed plumbing contractor, like Sirius Plumbing and Air Conditioning, for your Carrollton hot water heater installation.
Plumbers Near Me
Are you ready to upgrade your hot water heater? If so, then Sirius Plumbing and Air Conditioning is the team for the job. For years, we have served the Dallas-Fort Worth area with great pride. We have recently expanded and are glad to announce that our services are now available to Carrollton residents.
Our team offers free estimates on all installations and can get to work fast. We will ensure that you find the perfect size water heater for your home. Contact us today to get started!