How many gallon Water Heater do I need?
I’ll try to make this short. They put a 12-story building up right next to me. Since my chimney no longer vents as well because of the building, they are proposing to install a 30 Gal direct vent gas water heater. I live in a 2 family brownstone. Bottom floor is occupied by 1 person….
I’ll try to make this short. They put a 12-story building up right next to me. Since my chimney no longer vents as well because of the building, they are proposing to install a 30 Gal direct vent gas water heater. I live in a 2 family brownstone. Bottom floor is occupied by 1 person. Top 2 floors occupied by my 4 person family. Total 3 1/2 baths. Is 30 gallon enough? Master Plumber your input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
Bob: You are right, they are required to extend the chimney, but considering it is 5 stories next to me and I am only 2 it doesn’t make sense to have a 3 story extension on my chimney.
Master Plumber: I no longer have a boiler. I have a forced air system for both heat and AC.
Thanks everyone for your feedback!
A 30-gallon water heater serves 1 person.
A 40-gallon water heater serves 2-4.
5 people need at least a 50-gallon water heater.
Another option would be a 50-gallon High Recovery model which uses 65,000 BTUs instead of 50,000, but stores the same amount of water.
Do you have a boiler? Is the chimney for the boiler affected by this work?
I would think you could use the boiler to make hot water and do away with the need for an expensive and finicky direct vent water heater.
I have a 40 gallon water heater, which is fine, in my one family house, for two people–it was even adequate before my son got his own apartment. When we first bought our house there was a 30 gallon heater–we frequently ran out of hot water. I can’t imagine how a 30 gallon water heater could be adequate for a one family house, unless the recovery rate was VERY rapid.
BTW, aren’t they required to raise your chimney so that it’s higher than the new building they put up and wouldn’t that be a better solution for you?
GET A 50 GALLON
NO
50 – 75 gal (75 will provide for future bath expansion).
I own a 3 storey 2 family (20×50 brownstone). Tenant 2 adults kit sink, bath d/w. Me 2 adults – kit, washing machine, d/w, 3 baths – one bath, master, with 3 jets and two heads. – 75 gal usually enough – sometimes runs out in winter months.