Choosing the Right Size Electric Water Heater for Your Family's Needs

A suitable-sized electric water heater is required to ensure that your family is provided with the needed quantity of hot water while lowering energy consumption. Among several available types of electric water heaters, you must decide which one to opt for based on your family's strength, usage, and the type of electric heater.

In this book, we will walk you through selecting the best size of water heater and give a brief introduction to whether an electric or gas water heater is best for your house.

1. Electric vs. Gas Water Heaters

This will perhaps be the biggest choice regarding the type of water heater to purchase: it can either be an electric water heater or a gas geyser. 

Electric Water Heaters

Advantages: They are rather easy to install. Since there is no venting, they are ideal for small houses and are basically safer.

Disadvantages: It takes longer to heat, and it is more expensive if you charge a lot of money for electricity.

Gas Water Heater

Advantages: Heats faster and retains hot water in case of power outage; running is cheaper if gas price is cheaper

Disadvantages: It requires venting, and hence, installation is complex; it often needs to be maintained once in a while

2. Estimate your family’s demand for hot water

The size of your water heater should match the quantity that your family consumes to prevent hot water from not being available when you need it most in your house.

Household Size: 1-2 persons

Small Households: In these small houses, a water heater will comfortably handle 30 to 40 liters of capacity, enough to cater to simple house needs like short showers, light washing, and light uses.

Household Size: 3-4 persons

40-60 liters of water heaters is enough for three to four people. On-demand showers and laundry cycles.

Big Families

For three or more members, a 60-liter or larger water heater will ensure there is enough hot water for consecutive showers, dishwashing, and laundry.

But think about peak usage times in the future. So, if your family uses a lot of hot water on most mornings, then a bigger capacity or even a speedy heating gas water geyser could be enough.

3. Choosing an Electric Water Heater Capacity

In fact, there is a 'hunt' to determine that when sizing an electric water heater, look for "The First Hour Rating." Actually, measuring the hot amount of water the heater produces during the first hour of the heating operation is crucial for large households.

- Small houses: FHR of 30-40 liters

- Medium houses: FHR of 50-60 liters

- Large houses: FHR of 70 liters or more

If your family requires hot water at the same time for some or all of them, at say, morning rush time, you would appreciate a higher FHR or a gas water heater that heats up quicker.

4. Energy Efficiency and Costs

The next important deciding factor when buying a water heater is energy efficiency. Most electrical water heaters tend to be pretty energy efficient, so for any small-sized home, they more than do the trick in providing warm water when demanded. However, if we consider large families, whose every member would want warm or hot water on regular periods of time, gas geysers turn out to be much cheaper in this regard.

Key Efficiency Factors:

Energy Factor (EF): The rating of EF decides how efficient one is. The higher the EF-rated units, the more efficient the heating device is. At times, though, electric heaters become even costlier to operate than gas water heaters.

BACK-UP HEAT LOSS: Electric water heaters will have less chance of backup heat loss compared to the gas water geysers since the latter has to reheat the water every time

Economical high-efficiency heaters may lead you to reduce utility bills along with pollution on earth

5. Space and Installation Considerations

Now is the time to consider the space inside your house and the installation process. An electric water heater is likely to be more compact, hence remaining indoors, and normally does not need further venting, whereas a gas water heater requires more space and needs an air source for proper functioning.

Conclusion

An appropriately sized electric water heater will ensure that your family's comfort is matched by energy efficiency. However, selection depends on household size, peak hot water usage, and energy preferences. Thus, be it an electric water heater or a geyser water heater, you will get years of reliable hot water for your family.