WATER HEATERS

The average water heater only provides about 70% of the hot water capacity of the water heater tank.

In one continuous use (as with a shower) you will never get as many gallons of hot water out of the water heater as are listed on the gallons "capacity" of the water heater.

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This is because, as the hot water is leaving the tank, cold water is entering -- and quickly cooling the remaining hot water in the tank (see picture). For example, for a steady shower: A 40-gallon tank provides about 28 gallons of hot water (as shown here). A 50-gallon tank provides about 35 gallons of hot water.

Testing your water heater:

You can determine whether your water heater is producing its optimum capacity of hot water by performing this experiment:

• Take a one- or five-gallon jug (or bucket) to your bathroom.
• Turn on the hot water faucet in your bath tub.
• As soon as the water becomes hot, fill the jug.
• As soon as the jug is full, turn off the hot water faucet.
• Empty the jug.
• Repeat the above process, continuously -- recording the number of gallons of hot water you filled and emptied -- until the water becomes tepid (or cool).

NOTE: Outdoor and indoor temperatures can affect this. Cold weather often chills pipes inside and outside the house, resulting in colder water entering the water heater -- reducing the heater's amount of effective continuous supply of hot water.

CAUTION: To prevent scalding accidents from excessively hot tap water, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) urges all users to lower their water heaters to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. In addition to preventing accidents, this decrease in temperature conserves energy and saves money.

 

The flow rate in your shower, tub, or other outlet, can be determined by this simple test: Count how many seconds it takes to fill your gallon jug with hot water from that outlet. Then divide the seconds into 60 to get gallons-per-minute.

For example, if it takes 20 seconds to fill a gallon jug, divide 60 seconds (a minute) by 20 seconds (to fill your gallon jug), and you get a flow rate of 3 gallons per minute.

Doing this calculation will give you the maximum available flow rate of water from that faucet. (Flow rates may differ in different bathrooms. Repeat for each bathroom).

• The average shower takes approximately 10-12 minutes.
  Normal flow is half hot water, and half cold water,
  for the duration of shower.

• The FLOW RATE through a shower head:
  • If the shower head is an older model,
    the flow rate is 5 gallons per minute.

  • If the shower head is a newer model,
    the flow rate is 3 gallons per minute,
    through a standard shower head.

• The WATER USAGE through a shower head:
  • Using an older model shower head, a 10-minute shower will use approximately 50 gallons of water, (25 gallons of cold water, and 25 gallons of hot water).

  • Using a newer model shower head, a 10-minute shower will use approximately 30 gallons of water, (15 gallons of cold water, and 15 gallons of hot water).

For a home with four adults or more, Bradford White ® manufactures a 65-gallon, 65,000-BTU gas water heater that provides 120 gallons of hot water in the first hour of use.

Another option is to install a Rinnai® tankless water heater that continuously delivers hot water. Depending upon the model, 3 to 7 gallons-per-minute flow rate is available.

We offer a WIDE variety of other hot-water solutions, too, to fit your needs. For more information, check out the "Our Brands" page, or give us a call!