How do I figure out what kind of water heater I have or need?

Let us take care of your water heater repair or replacement today.
(800)-524-4280    or  (203)-556-6449

Bruce Somers Plumbing llc
(90% of all pictures are of Bruce’s work)
State Licensing: P-01 Plumbing, 0285038, 10-31-2010
CT Insurance: General Liability, $2,000,000; 07-28-2010

When it’s time to replace your water heater it’s a great idea to know what kind of water heater you have/ will need before you call your plumber.  This can sometimes help you save a few bucks on the cost of replacement.  It would also save you valuable time if having a new water heater installed as quickly as possible is extremely inportant (maybe for a restaurant, or other place of business)  Know what size water heater you have and your plumber can bring one over without seeing your current leaking one.  To find out exactly what kind & size your water heater is, you need to figure out a few things.

1.Find out what kind of energy it uses.
2. How big is it (how many gallons).
3. Figure out what the height is
4.how it’s vented.

1. What kind of energy is uses. Electric water heaters will have a electrical supply cord going to the top or side of the heater.  Gas water heaters will have either have a half inch black gas pipe going into the bottom of the tank, or a quarter inch copper line,  or possibly a yellow flexible line called track pipe.    If you have gas you need to know what kind of gas you have  natural gas, or propane.  Just look around your house for a propane tank, or a gas meter. You could also check your gas bill to find that out if you aren’t sure. If it uses oil you have an oil fired water heater.
2. What size (how many gallons)  is your current water heater.  On the side, and near the top of the tank their will be a label with the water heater information.  You should be able to see the number 30,40, 50, 75, or 80 gallons within the label.  I’d say 80 – 90% of homes in America will have either 40 or 50 gallons tanks. Small apartments can use sometimes use 30 gallon tanks, large homes with 4 or more bathrooms would need a 75- 80 gallon tank.   Note:   If you need to replace you current water heater and your family has gotten or will getting bigger, will be adding a jacuzzi tub etc, this is the time to increase the size of your water heater if you so desire
   If you have a oil fired water heater they only come in two sizes for residential oil fired water heaters 30 gallon, and 50 gallon.
3. You should get a measurement of  the tank.  Heaters typically come in two sizes.  Tall or short.  This can be very important for a few installation reasons, and short heaters are more expensive than regular sized models.  The actual size difference between tall and short water heaters is only about 10 – 14 inches depending on what brand water heater.  All the different manufactures have what they call “regular/standard highest, short models, and sometimes some companies offer “thin” models, (which are also the tallest).   It’s important to know the height because  if for example your water heater is located under a stair case,  you would need a short mode most likely.  When measuring your current water heater be sure not include any platforms, concrete blocks, bricks etc.  Measure the bottom of the tank to the top of the tank, simple as that.  Note: if their are legs integrated in the tank, as they are in most old gas & oil fired water heaters the leg height should also be included with the tank height measurement.
4. For gas water heaters:  You should know what kind of venting the tank has.  Oil fired water heaters will either be vented from the side or from the top.  Gas water heaters will either be “regularly” vented meaning the exhaust goes into a chimney or in B-vent.  Gas water heaters can also be “power vented” meaning they have a fan & motor fixed on top of the tank which pushes the exhaust out doors threw a 3 or 4 inch pvc pipe.  Power vented water heaters are much more expensive than regular vented water heaters, but if you don’t have a chimney, or you chimney is bad/ condemned you have to go with a power vented, or electric water heater.  Electric water heaters do not produce exhaust gases their for are not vented, but electric water heaters cost almost twice as much to run than gas water heaters. Oil fired water heater are either “Top vented”, or “Rear Vented”.

When you know these things you know what kind of heater you have, / when it’s time to replace your old leaking water heater you are set with the all the information you need when buying a new one.

Another new water heater

This is a picture of a new Rheem water heater.

It’s uses natural gas, it’s regularly vented, and standard height.

So this water heater is exactly called a;
Rheem 50 gallon, gas, standard height & regular venting.

You need to have all the following information when buying a new water heater.  (gallon size, type of fuel, height, and venting)

This heater is a 30 gallon, therma flow, indirect, storage tank.

Another oil fired water heater installed for an affordable price.

Close

To the right is an 50 gallon, Boch,  oil fired water heater, top vented.

Let us take care of your water heater repair or replacement today.
(800)-524-4280    or  (203)-556-6449

Bruce Somers Plumbing llc
(90% of all pictures are of Bruce’s work)
State Licensing: P-01 Plumbing, 0285038, 10-31-2010
CT Insurance: General Liability, $2,000,000; 07-28-2010

We provide top quality plumbing information about services, free estimates, installations and repairs on all Rheem, Ruud, Bradford white, State, and A.O. Smith electric, gas, propane, Bock, Thermaflow/Everhot oil fired hot water heaters, Navien, Rheem, Noritz, and Takagi tankless water heaters, Ruud, Bock, and lochinvar oil fired water heaters, SuperStor storage tanks, Peerless, Laars, and Crown tankless coils, and repairs on all hot water heater throughout the state of Connecticut including Bridgeport, CT- Bristol, CT- Cheshire, CT- Danbury,CT- Derby,CT- East Hartford,CT- East Haven,CT- Enfield,CT- Fairfield,CT- Hamden,CT- Hartford,CT- Meriden,CT- Orange,CT- Middletown,CT- Milford,CT- New Britain,CT- New Haven,CT- New London,CT- Norwalk,CT- East Norwalk,CT- Norwich,CT- Putnam,CT- Shelton,CT- Southington,CT- Stamford,CT- Stratford,CT- Southport,CT- Torrington,CT- Wallingford,CT- Watertown,CT- West Hartford,CT- West Haven,CT- Westport,CT- Wethersfield,CT- Willimantic,CT- all shore areas, and surrounding Connecticut areas.

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