Replies

1. 
   Tim | Jul 21, 2008 09:22pm | #1

   Your household is 4 what? People? Bathrooms?

   I going to assume that you mean 4 people. Water heaters are typically sized by the number of bathrooms in a residence.

   For 4 people, a 40 gallon, 40,000 btuh gas water heater would meet most of there needs, most of the time. There are other factors that might require more capacity. A large whirlpool tub, for instance, or special needs. Unlike air conditioning, a little oversizing of a water heatr is not a bad thing.

   Brand preferences are seldom based on reality. Compare warranties. Look at Consumer Reports or the like.

1. 
   msw | Jul 21, 2008 11:57pm | #3

   Thank you for your reply

   We have 3 full bathroom and 1 guest bathroom, 3 adults and 1 teenager

    

1. 
   husbandman | Jul 22, 2008 12:06am | #4

   I'd suggest that you go with a larger heater, now that you've clarified your needs.We have an 80 gallon electric heater which readily handled four adults, three of whom were doing construction (read: lots of laundry and showers).You don't say what fuel you use for heating water.You might inquire at your electric company about whether they offer any incentives. Some electric providers have "off-peak rates" which you might qualify for. Our off-peak rate is less than half the normal. We set up the water heater on a timer and now it only runs on the off peak rate and still supplies plenty of hot water for the two of us who now live here.

1. 
   msw | Jul 22, 2008 12:17am | #5

   Thank you for your reply

   We only can install electric tank heaters

1. 
   husbandman | Jul 22, 2008 12:41am | #6

   You're welcome.And I forgot to add that our power company paid us a $350 rebate for buying a $500 water heater from them.

2. 
   davidmeiland | Jul 22, 2008 04:15am | #7

   Check out a Rheem "Marathon" water heater.

2. 
   Clewless1 | Jul 22, 2008 04:45am | #8

   If you have a teenage daughter from Heck that takes 30 min showers, then 120 gallons ... otherwise 40 oughta do it .... just kidding.

   Install auto shut off on the shower to limit showers to max 10 min (I think THAT is long).

   If you have water efficient appliances, that can affect your choice as well ... dishwasher, front loading washer, and LOW FLOW SHOWER heads (1.5 is current low AND comfortable ... 2.5 is the max allowable) ... if you don't have a low flow shower head ... start there and talk to your teenager about appropriate shower length ... and energy ... and environment ... you get it.

   With water efficient appliances you may be able to downsize. IMO rules of thumb ... no. of people are only part of the equation. Lifestyle and the way you go about your hot water business can/should be part of the equation. If you don't often do LOTS of simultaneous hot water activities, you can get away with less. If baths are rare, you can get away w/ less. You can ultimately fine tune capacity with storage temperature (e.g. 115 to 130). Well insulated water heaters don't lose much heat through the jacket.

2. 
   DanH | Jul 21, 2008 10:11pm | #2

   My thumb suck: Figure 25 gallons base plus 5 gallons per adult male, 10 gallons per adult female, 100 gallons for each teenager.

   It is an ironic habit of human beings to run faster when we have lost our way. --Rollo May
1. 
   brucet9 | Jul 22, 2008 06:01am | #9

   "Figure 25 gallons base plus 5 gallons per adult male, 10 gallons per adult female, 100 gallons for each teenager."You're not so far off, I think. I once installed a Bosch high-capacity tankless water heater for a family with two teen aged sons. This thing cost a bundle and then more to install, what with 60 feet of new oversize gas line to handle the 175,000 BTU demand and $300 worth of special pressurized SS flue duct for a mere 7' run.Three months later I asked how much their gas bill had decreased with that high-efficiency tankless heater. HO said that the gas bill actually went up because the teenagers no longer ran out of hot water in the shower, so they stayed in much longer.
   BruceT