Sizing A Water Heater Involves 2 Steps
Author: Ask Nicor Services | Friday, December 21, 2012
Most homeowners want to find ways to reduce home energy costs. There are, in fact, multiple ways to lower energy bills, from adding insulation to scheduling preventive maintenance for your heating system. However, homeowners might not always consider the value of properly sizing a water heater before installation to encourage optimal energy savings.
A water heater is generally one the largest consumers of energy in a home, which is why ensuring that you select one that is neither too large or too small, either of which would use more energy than necessary, is paramount. Properly sizing a water heater involves two primary steps:
Calculating peak demand
The first thing you need to do when sizing a water heater is to determine the peak demand for hot water in your home. This number represents the maximum output of hot water you and your family might be expected to use in a single hour. For example, a home in which the family members use 10 gallons for the shower, 2 gallons for shaving, 4 gallons for hand washing, 6 gallons for the dishwasher and 7 gallons for the washing machine would have a peak one-hour demand of 36 gallons. The capacity of the water heater should meet that demand.
Calculating first-hour rating
When sizing a water heater, the second step involves matching the first-hour rating of the system to the household's peak demand. This rating describes the number of gallons that the water heater can generate per hour, assuming the process begins with a full tank of hot water. You should look for a water heater that closely matches your peak demand. Using the above example, and consulting with a professional, you may want to select a water heater capacity that's a few gallons higher than peak demand, or even slightly larger to ensure an adequate supply.
It's important that homeowners work with a trusted contractor to properly size a water heater to decrease energy consumption and lower utility bills. Contact Nicor Home Solutions today to find out more about our leading sizing and installation practices. We have operated in the west suburbs of Chicago for more than 30 years, and our staff of courteous professionals will be happy to help you.
Back to Blog