A 50 gallon water heater is sufficient for a household of 3 to 4 people. If you have over 5 people in your home, you may require a 75 gallon hot water heater.
If you do decide to go with a tank water heater, the size of your family will be one factor that dictates the size of the tank that you go for. A general way to estimate what size of tank you'll need is to add 12 gallons per family member. So a 50-gallon tank would be adequate for the average family of 2–3 children.
Remember, a household with five people should require a tank between 60 and 80 gallons in size, and you should make your choice with the next decade in mind!
It is very common to find a 50 gallon water heater in a 3 bedroom/3 bathroom home. This is not only because the uniform plumbing code regulates the minimum capacity required in homes based on bedroom and bathroom size, but also because a 50 gallon capacity unit will appropriately serve a to 3 bed/3 bath residence.
A small (50- to 60-gallon) storage tank is usually sufficient for one to two three people. A medium (80-gallon) storage tank works well for three to four people. A large tank is appropriate for four to six people.
With a low gpm head and full hot you should be able to get 20 min out of 50 gallons. Now you turn down the hot and add a little cold and you should get more time in a less hot shower. If you need more time you could turn up the water heater and use a less hot water to cold ratio. That would get you a few more minutes.
Water tank for the house: Capacity
So, if you have a small family of 3 to 4 persons, then 500 to 600 liter storage is sufficient. If you have a big family of 5-6 people, you will require a 700 to 1000 liter tank. If you want to put the water tank in a commercial complex, you can choose a 1000 to 2000 liter water tank.
For example, an average family of 3 to 4 people should purchase a 50 – 60 gallon water heater. On the other hand, a household with 5 – 7 people may require a water heater with a 60 – 80 gallon water tank depending on water usage patterns.
It is generally accepted that each person will use around 50 litres of hot water per day, and in a storage system it is good to have 1.5 days capacity. A three-bedroom house can comfortably accommodate four people and so it should have a 300-litre tank, even though it may currently be occupied by a retired couple.
If you have a large family or use a lot of hot water, you might consider a 50-gallon water heater. This size is beneficial if someone in your family takes long showers or if you have to do laundry frequently. The initial cost of a 50-gallon water heater will be more than a smaller model.
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. For six or more people, look at larger tanks with a 60-gallon or greater capacity.
Household Size and Hot Water Habits
For instance, a household with multiple residents will require a larger water heater to accommodate simultaneous usage and avoid running out of hot water. For a typical household, a geyser size for family of 4 should be around 15-25 litres.
Best 50 gallon electric water heater
We looked at every 50 gallon electric water on the market and our favorite is the Rheem Performance 50 Gal. Electric Tank Water Heater. This model is about $250 cheaper than the Bradford White 50 gallon electric hot water heater.
A standard 40-gallon tank will last between 10 and 15 years while larger tanks (50 gallons) have a lifespan of up to 20 years. If you live in an area with hard water, the life expectancy of your water heater may be much shorter than if you lived in an area with soft water.
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.
Here is a breakdown of how many gallons of water and the time it takes to heat the water. 40-gallon electric water heater – typically takes between 60 and 80 minutes. 50-gallon electric water heater – typically takes between 145 and 150 minutes.
A "normal" shower head is about 2 gallons/minute, plus/minus (it could be a lot more, it's true). 50 gallons gives a total of 25 minutes of showering, say 30 we count the recovering capacity, which is about 15 minutes per shower. That seems to be plenty of time for a shower if you ask me.
Tank Water Heater Sizing Estimates
For Households of 1 to 2 People: 30-Gallon Water Heater. For Households of 2 to 3 People: 40-Gallon Water Heater. For Households of 3 to 4 People: 50-Gallon Electric Water Heater/ 40-Gallon Natural Gas or Liquid Propane Water Heater.
For a family of 5: A minimum of 18,750 litres of water storage is recommended, but a larger tank size of 22,500 to 46,400 litres is ideal for ensuring a reliable water supply.
Generally, taking a shower uses less water than a full bath. A standard showerhead flows at a rate of 2.5 gallons per minute . This means that a ten-minute shower only uses 25 gallons of water.
004; result, 18 gallons per hour recovery. Then divide 18 into the rated gallon capacity (50 gallons). Result would be 2.8 -- or approximately three hours operating recovery time.
Water Heater Issues
If your water heater isn't working properly, several fairly common issues can lead to less hot water availability. A malfunctioning thermostat, broken dip tube, and sediment buildup are the most common repair issues that can explain why your shower quickly runs out of hot water.