Does The Size Of Your Water Heater Make A Difference?

The Family Plumber - Surprise, Arizona

"There's a good rule of thumb, they say 1 to 3 people a 40 gallon gas, 40 gallon,electric,40 gallons is all right. When you go to 3 to 5 people in the home, it's usually about a 50 gallon."

- Bobby Crowder, Plumbing Expert

Check A Pro Joe (Jim Klauck) has asked plumbing expert, Bobby Crowder from The Family Plumber, to join him on this segment of the show.

The question today - "Does the size of your water heater matter?" How to size a water heater for your home?

Check out this episode of The Plumber Podcast to find out more...

For more information about The Family Plumber in Surprise, Arizona log on to www.callthefamilyplumber.com or check them out at www.checkapro.com.

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Podcast Episode Transcript:

Size may matter.
Well,
I'm talking water heaters here.
I've asked my good friend Bobby Crowder,
the family plumber in surprise Arizona to join me here on the program today to talk about the size of your water heater.
What is the best size?
What is the size you need?
And it's interesting because Bobby,
I think a lot of people aren't sure what size they have.
Welcome.
Hey,
thanks for having me on Joe.
Yeah,
they don't,
the thing is,
is they don't care.
They just see a tank out there and like,
ok,
it's just gonna provide but when they replace it or they get,
you know,
more people in the home or less people in the home,
it's,
you know,
it's adequate to see what size you should actually have.
So,
there's a good rule of thumb,
you know,
they say uh 1 to 3 people is,
you know,
40 gallon gas,
40 gallon,
electric,
40 gallons is all right.
When you go to 3 to 5 people in the home,
it's usually about a 50 gallon.
So keep in mind,
you know,
people,
you know,
running out of water or hot water,
blah,
blah,
blah,
you gotta remember.
It also depends on your fixtures in your home,
your showerheads,
if you took out the aerators or,
or,
or flow restrictor,
you're gonna be pushing out 23 gallons per minute.
So,
yeah,
you're gonna drain that water heater down quickly.
So I won't,
I don't recommend that.
You also got to remember the first hour of a water heater is much more than the continuous use of it.
So,
say like a 40 gallon you're gonna get,
uh,
like,
I think it's 60 58 or 60 gallons for the first hour.
So you will gain more that first hour.
But if it's continuous,
you know,
shower after shower,
shower.
Yeah,
then you're going to deplete it pretty,
pretty quickly.
So it has to be sized for your home and your family and a great way to tell if it's sized,
right is by using it.
So,
if it's relatively new,
let's say it's six months old to three years old.
It,
it still should be in great shape regardless if it's gas or electric,
if you're constantly running out of hot water,
regardless of why you need a bigger water heater.
Because you're drawing you,
you,
I mean,
like if you like,
take 30 minute showers and so does your spouse and so do the kids then get a bigger water heater?
That's correct.
Yeah,
it,
you gotta to size it properly.
Yep,
it's important.
Now some people in their homes will have two and it's great because it'll be split on both sides of the house.
So,
maybe the kids have their own and,
uh,
mom and dad have their own and then of course one of the sides is going to have the kitchen,
which is important and,
and the laundry,
but you can actually split it.
So you could have two forties and you really got 80.
Correct?
Yeah,
I've seen that quite a bit.
It's,
it's,
you know,
a split system in their home or a holding tank,
you know,
vice versa.
Yeah.
Yeah.
And I'm kind of greedy.
My wife,
my wife and I are empty nested and we have two fifties.
Oh,
nice.
It's just about endless.
We never run out of hot water.
It's great.
Hey,
Bobby,
this has been great.
If you want to get a hold of Bobby and his team over at the family plumber.
It's right in the description.
All his information is right in the description of this podcast,
his phone number and his website,
Bobby once again.
Thank you so much.
It's been a pleasure.
Thanks,
Joe.