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water heater sizing
Water Heater Sizing, Installation, Maintenance and Operation Tips
Are you looking at buying a new water heater? Make sure it’s the right size first. Then, become familiar with tips for installing, maintaining and operating your water heater for long-term savings.
Water Heater Sizing
Even if your last tank seemed to do its job well, don’t assume it was the ideal capacity. To size a new water heater, add up how much hot water your household consumes during the busiest hour of an average day. This is your peak-hour demand. Find a water heater with a comparable first-hour rating (FHR) printed on the yellow Energy Guide label.
Different fuel sources deliver different FHRs in relation to the tank size. As a general rule of thumb, one- to two-person households need about a 40-gallon electric or gas water heater while a four-person household may need a 50-gallon gas water heater or up to an 80-gallon electric water heater.
Installation
To maximize efficiency, install the following items along with your new investment:
Aerating, low-flow showerheads and faucets
Water heater and piping insulation
Drain-water waste recovery system to preheat cold water entering the water heater
Maintenance
Neglect your water heater and it may last less than a decade. Take good care of it and it could last 20 years or more. Follow these maintenance tips to lengthen the life of your investment:
Flush the tank twice a year.
Inspect the pressure relief valve and have it replaced if you spot corrosion or rust.
Remove and inspect the anode rod and replace it if six inches or more of the core wire is exposed.
Inspect the combustion chamber and flue vent on gas- and oil-fired units.
Remove and check the heating elements on electric units.
Operation Tips
Save energy and money with these tips:
Set the water heater to 120 degrees instead of 140 degrees.
Repair leaky faucets promptly.
Take shorter showers.
Only run the dishwasher and clothes washing machine with full loads.
Set the water heater to vacation mode when you leave town.
For help on water heater sizing for your Broken Arrow home, please contact Air Assurance today.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
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