The British thermal unit, or BTU, is a unit of energy, one that is used to quantify the heating and cooling power of, water heaters, air conditioners and similar equipment.
How many BTUs do I need to heat my water heater?
As 1 gallon of water needs 10 BTU to raise it through 1°F, a 26 gallon tank of cold mains water needs 26,000 BTU to raise its temperature to the required level. With a 3 hour design reheat time, this means about 9,000 BTU per hour.
What size water heater do I need for a family of 5?
If your family size is 5 or more, you’ll need an 80-gallon tank (electric) or a 50-gallon tank (natural gas or liquid propane).
What is a good energy rating for a hot water heater?
Look for the thermal efficiency rating rather than EF, with values of 0.90 and above. The minimum efficiency of electric resistance storage water heaters is about 0.90 (depending on tank volume), and the best available are 0.95 EF.
Is there a big difference between a 40 gallon and 50 gallon water heater?
The Energy Factor
The cycling losses measure how much heat is lost as the water circulates through the system.With the energy factors being equal, the difference in cost of running a 50-gallon heater over a 40-gallon heater is essentially insignificant.
Is higher BTU better for water heater?
The higher the BTU input and efficiency, the faster the recovery. Electric water heaters typically have one 5,500-watt or two 4,500-watt elements. Two lower-kilowatt elements will heat much faster than one higher-wattage element.
How many BTUs do I need for a 40 gallon water heater?
34,000 BTUs
A common input is 34,000 BTUs on a 40-gallon tank and 36,000 BTUs on a 50-gallon tank. The higher the BTU input and efficiency, the faster the recovery.
How long of a shower can you take with a 50 gallon water heater?
If a water heater has a 50-gallon tank of fully-heated water, it should easily be able to supply enough hot water for a fifteen or twenty minute shower. Showers longer than that are unnecessary.
What size water heater is best for a family of 4?
Household size plays a big role in determining the right water heater size. A home with two or fewer people can be served by a 23- to 36-gallon tank. A tank size of 36- to 46-gallons is best for homes of up to four people. A home with five people can be served by a 46- to 56-gallon tank.
Is a 20 gallon hot water heater big enough?
20-gallon water heaters are a unique size. They’re large enough for smaller homes that don’t require large amounts of hot water, yet they’re an excellent choice for high-demand point-of-use (POU) applications such as bathrooms with showers. The versatility of the 20-gallon size makes these heaters ideal for many uses.
How do I know if my water heater is efficient?
To calculate a water heater’s energy factor, you take the amount of energy the water heater puts to use and divide it by the total amount of energy that goes into powering the unit. The higher the energy factor of a water heater, the more efficient it is.
How do I know if my water heater is energy-efficient?
A water heater’s energy efficiency is determined by the energy factor (EF), which is based on the amount of hot water produced per unit of fuel consumed over a typical day. The higher the energy factor, the more efficient the water heater.
What is the cheapest way to heat hot water?
Usually natural gas is the cheapest way to heat water, followed by electricity, with propane being the most expensive.
Is a 50 gallon hot water heater enough for a family of 4?
For a four-person family, a 50-gallon water heater is sufficient. 50-gallons is good if you’re using electricity, and 40 gallons will work for natural gas or propane. Families with more than five persons may benefit from an 80-gallon electric water heater or 50-gallon gas water heater.
Should I buy a 40 or 50 gallon hot water heater?
Typically, the rule-of-thumb is that you want a 40 gallon tank for 1 to 4 people, a 50 gallon tank for 4 to 6 people, and a 50 gallon high recovery or 75 gallon tank for 6 to 8 people.
How long of a shower can you take with a 40 gallon water heater?
A 40-gallon water heater can provide up to 2 showers in an hour (if you’re not using any other water appliances).
Are higher BTUs better?
A heater with a higher BTU rating is more powerful that is, it has a higher heat output than one with a low BTU rating. It can do more to raise the temperature in your room each hour, so you can either heat a room more quickly or heat a larger space.
How many BTU’s do I need?
Size and Ceiling Height
| Area To Be Cooled (square feet) | Capacity Needed (BTUs per hour) |
|---|---|
| 100 to 150 | 5,000 |
| 150 to 250 | 6,000 |
| 250 to 300 | 7,000 |
| 300 to 350 | 8,000 |
Does higher BTU use more gas?
Natural gas and LP are sold by the BTU so the more BTU’s a burner uses per hour the more it will cost to burn the appliance.
Is a short or tall water heater better?
Height does not diminish the unit’s ability to produce hot water. Next to heating, cooling and refrigeration, your water heater comes in third place in terms of energy use and costs. As a general rule, you should take an “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” approach in selecting a tall or short water heater.
What is ultra low NOx water heater?
An Ultra Low NOx gas water heater is one that emits a lower level of nitrogen oxide than a standard gas water heater. Some states and municipalities have requirements and standards to limit the maximum amount of NOx emissions for gas water heaters particularly certain counties in California and in the state of Utah.
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