Homeowner advice from the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI)
Most homeowners don’t give a second thought to their water heater—until the hot water stops flowing. Here’s what you need to know when selecting a new one and maintaining the one you have.
Storage tank water heaters have an insulated tank where water is heated and stored until it’s needed. They’re available in electric, propane and natural gas models.
- Tank size is an important consideration. Base your decision on household size. One to two people will need a 30-gallon tank. Three to four people will use a 40- to 50-gallon tank.
- Also think about the recovery rate — the number of gallons of water the water heater can heat in an hour. The greater your demand for hot water, the higher recovery rate you need.
- Know the dimensions of the space where your water heater will be stored and ensure that the one you want will fit.