What Does BTU Stand for in Water Heaters?
- Definition. A BTU is the quantity of heat needed to raise one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. ...
- Significance. A water heater is ranked by BTU input, but really means BTUs/hr; thus a 33,000 BTU heater can heat 33,000 pounds of water by one degree in an hour; ...
- Recovery Rate. ...
- Size. ...
- Usage. ...
What does the BTU rating on a water heater mean?
What Does BTU Stand for in Water Heaters?
- Definition. A BTU is the quantity of heat needed to raise one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. ...
- Significance. A water heater is ranked by BTU input, but really means BTUs/hr; thus a 33,000 BTU heater can heat 33,000 pounds of water by one degree in an hour; ...
- Recovery Rate. ...
- Size. ...
- Usage. ...
How many BTU in a water heater?
How many BTU do I need for water heater? Input ranges from about 32,000 on a 30-gallon unit to 88,000 on a 100-gallon tank. A common input is 34,000 BTUs on a 40-gallon tank and 36,000 BTUs on a 50-gallon tank. The higher the BTU input and efficiency, the faster the recovery. Electric water heaters typically have one 5,500-watt or two 4,500 ...
What is the highest BTU natural gas heater?
- BEST OVERALL: Mr. Heater 30,000 BTU Vent Free Natural Gas Heater
- BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Mr. Heater MH-F232000 Portable Buddy 9,000 BTU
- BEST FOR LARGE SPACES: Mr. Heater F260560 Big Maxx Natural Gas Unit Heater
- BEST NATURAL GAS: Dyna-Glo 30,000 BTU Natural Gas Vent Free Wall Heater
- ALSO CONSIDER: Mr. Heater F260550 Big Maxx Natural Gas Unit Heater
What is the best power vent water heater?
Two Different Types of Water Heaters: Direct & Power Vent
- Direct Vent. Direct vent water heaters are very popular in the Northern Colorado area. ...
- Power Vent. A power vent water heater uses a fan or blower to assist in the removal of exhaust gases from the hot water heater.
- Disadvantages. A power vent water heater will cost more initially due to extra equipment needed such as the fan and blower.
How many BTU water heater do I need?
Input ranges from about 32,000 on a 30-gallon unit to 88,000 on a 100-gallon tank. A common input is 34,000 BTUs on a 40-gallon tank and 36,000 BTUs on a 50-gallon tank. The higher the BTU input and efficiency, the faster the recovery.21-Nov-2014
Do you want higher or lower BTU water heater?
The higher the BTU input and efficiency, the faster the recovery. Electric water heaters typically have one 5,500-watt or two 4,500-watt elements. Two lower-kilowatt elements will heat much faster than one higher-wattage element.23-Mar-2021
Is a bigger water heater more efficient?
All other things being equal, the smaller the water heater tank, the higher the efficiency rating. Compared to small tanks, large tanks have a greater surface area, which increases heat loss from the tank and decreases the energy efficiency somewhat, as mentioned above.
What size water heater do I need for a family of 5?
If your family size is 5 or more, you'll need an 80-gallon tank (electric) or a 50-gallon tank (natural gas or liquid propane).
How many BTU does it take to heat a gallon of water?
8.33 BTUOne BTU is the amount of heat energy required to raise one pound of water by 1ºF. Water weighs 8.33 pounds per gallon so we can calculate that one gallon of water requires 8.33 BTU to raise the temperature 1ºF.03-Jul-2012
What should I look for when buying a hot water heater?
When selecting the best type and model of water heater for your home, consider the following:Fuel type, availability and cost. The fuel type or energy source you use for water heating will not only affect the water heater's annual operation costs but also its size and energy efficiency. ... Size. ... Energy efficiency. ... Costs.
Is 40 gallon water heater enough for a family of 4?
Typically, the rule-of-thumb is that you want a 40 gallon tank for 1 to 4 people, a 50 gallon tank for 4 to 6 people, and a 50 gallon high recovery or 75 gallon tank for 6 to 8 people.19-Nov-2015
Can I replace a 40 gallon water heater with a 50 gallon?
However, if your old water heater did not provide enough hot water, you can consider going with a larger unit—changing from a 40-gallon to a 50-gallon unit, for example, though there must be enough space for the larger heater, the flue size must be correct with proper pitch, and the supplied gas line must be adequate ...09-Dec-2021
Can you replace a 30 gallon water heater with a 40 gallon?
Both 30- and 40-gallon water tanks are on the small end and work best for only a few people. A 30-gallon tank would generally be enough for one or two people. A family of three to four will likely need a 40-gallon water heater, but you might need a larger tank if you use a lot of hot water.13-Jan-2022
How long of a shower can you take with a 50 gallon water heater?
If a water heater has a 50-gallon tank of fully-heated water, it should easily be able to supply enough hot water for a fifteen or twenty minute shower. Showers longer than that are unnecessary.
Is a 10 gallon water heater enough for a shower?
Determining how much hot water your water heater should provide per shower depends largely on the size of your hot water tank. For instance, a typical shower uses about 10 gallons of hot water. So, if you have a 40-gallon hot water tank, you should be able to get four average-length showers out of your hot water tank.03-Mar-2020
Is a 20 gallon hot water heater big enough?
20-gallon water heaters are a unique size. They're large enough for smaller homes that don't require large amounts of hot water, yet they're an excellent choice for high-demand point-of-use (POU) applications such as bathrooms with showers. The versatility of the 20-gallon size makes these heaters ideal for many uses.
Is there a big difference between a 40 gallon and 50 gallon water heater?
The Energy Factor The cycling losses measure how much heat is lost as the water circulates through the system. ... With the energy factors being equal, the difference in cost of running a 50-gallon heater over a 40-gallon heater is essentially insignificant.
How do you determine what size water heater do you need?
But if you only need a loose estimate of what size you need (versus an exact calculation), follow these guidelines:For 1 to 2 people: 30-40 gallons.For 2 to 3 people: 40-50 gallons.For 3 to 4 people: 50-60 gallons.For 5+ people: 60-80 gallons.10-Apr-2018
Which is better 40 or 50 gallon water heater?
Typically, the rule-of-thumb is that you want a 40 gallon tank for 1 to 4 people, a 50 gallon tank for 4 to 6 people, and a 50 gallon high recovery or 75 gallon tank for 6 to 8 people. Energy consumption for 40 and 50 gallon standard water heaters is quite comparable.19-Nov-2015
Is a 50-gallon hot water heater enough for a family of 4?
For a four-person family, a 50-gallon water heater is sufficient. 50-gallons is good if you're using electricity, and 40 gallons will work for natural gas or propane. Families with more than five persons may benefit from an 80-gallon electric water heater or 50-gallon gas water heater.29-Sept-2021
How long of a shower can you take with a 40-gallon water heater?
A 40-gallon water heater can provide up to 2 showers in an hour (if you're not using any other water appliances).26-Sept-2017
Is a 10 gallon water heater enough for a shower?
Determining how much hot water your water heater should provide per shower depends largely on the size of your hot water tank. For instance, a typical shower uses about 10 gallons of hot water. So, if you have a 40-gallon hot water tank, you should be able to get four average-length showers out of your hot water tank.03-Mar-2020
Is a 20 gallon hot water heater big enough?
20-gallon water heaters are a unique size. They're large enough for smaller homes that don't require large amounts of hot water, yet they're an excellent choice for high-demand point-of-use (POU) applications such as bathrooms with showers. The versatility of the 20-gallon size makes these heaters ideal for many uses.
What is the standard size hot water heater?
Tank water heaters range from 20- to 80-gallon capacities. ... In general, a 40- to 50-gallon tank is sufficient for an average household of 2 to 3 people, increasing by 10 gallons per additional person in the home. In a tankless water heater, the capacity is measured by flow rate, calculated in gallons per minute.
Can I replace my 40 gallon water heater with a 50 gallon?
If you are running out of hot water with a 40 gallon tank, it is often possible to upgrade to a 50 gallon tank without much modification. It typically requires a couple of extra inches of available width for the tank.
How long can you shower with a 50 gallon water heater?
For a 50 gallon tank at 1.2 GPM of hot water, your shower should last about 42 minutes.
How often should you clean out your water heater?
Tip: To maintain the upkeep of your water heater, flush your water heater every six months or so. If you have harder water, or water that contains more minerals, you may want to flush it more often.
What is a BTU?
Definition. A BTU is the quantity of heat needed to raise one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. More BTUs mean more heating power.
What is input in water heater?
Input - The amount of gas or electricity used per hour to heat water in the tank. Higher input means the water heater can heat more water faster when needed. Natural or propane gas input is expressed in BTU's (British Thermal Units) per hour, and State gas inputs range from 30,000 to 75,100 BTU's.
How many gallons of water does a water heater hold?
Short water heaters vary between 30 to 49 inches and hold up to 50 gallons of water. The nickname for tall water heaters is “short boy.” Tall water heaters range from 50 to 76 inches and can hold up to 100 gallons of water. They're ideal for basements or garages where height isn't an issue.
How Many BTUs Does My Water Heater Use?
A simple way to visualize a BTU is to think of it as the amount of heat energy generated by a single, 4-inch wooden matchstick while it burns through. Thankfully, your domestic hot water supply doesn’t rely on someone burning matchsticks under your home water heater… else, there’d be a longish wait for that shower!
How Many BTUs Do I Get Per Unit of Energy?
Natural gas yields the lowest BTUs per cubic foot (approx. 1000), followed by electricity, while fuels like propane and gasoline provide close r to 100,000 BTUs per unit, and wood yields about 20 million BTUs per cord.
What is a BTU?
Definition. A BTU is the quantity of heat needed to raise one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. More BTUs mean more heating power.
How many people can use a 50 gallon water heater?
A 50 gallon water heater is the most common tank we install. It is such a common size because it can supply hot water for 3 – 5 people. Considering an average shower uses 17.2 gallons of water you can typically have enough hot water for up to five people to take a shower within an hour.
What is a BTU water heater?
One of the most important factors, however, is how many BTUs it has. Short for British Thermal Unit, a BTU is a unit of energy.
What does BTU mean in heating?
The higher the level of BTU, the more heating power that the unit possesses. BTU for appliances is generally used to quantify the heating and cooling ability of that unit. You will see BTU referenced not only for water heaters, but for air conditioners, and any other type of similar equipment used in the home.
What is a BTU?
This is a measurement of the quantity of heat that is required to raise a single pound of water by a single degree Fahrenheit. The higher the level of BTU, the more heating power that the unit possesses.
How many BTU per gallon of water?
Using the information from the tag or sticker, you can make your equation. It takes a single BTU per each pound of water to elevate the temperature a single degree Fahrenheit. A standard water heater in America is 40 gallons, with each gallon weighing 8.33 pounds.
How much water does a 36,000 BTU water heater heat?
So, if you were to have a 36,000 BTU water heater, it is capable of heating up to 36,000 pounds of water by a single degree each hour. That equates to 360 pounds by 100 degrees.
What is the difference between a 36,000 BTU water heater and a 40,000 BTU water heater?
The 36,000 BTU water heater is about 40 gallons while the 40,000 BTU water heater is around 50 gallons.
How many gallons is a 40,000 BTU water heater?
The 36,000 BTU water heater is about 40 gallons while the 40,000 BTU water heater is around 50 gallons.
What does a high BTU mean on a furnace?
Efficiency is measured by another standard: AFUE, or Annual Fuel-Utilization Efficiency. A higher AFUE means your furnace will be better at turning gas into heat and signifies the potential for greater savings over its lifetime. New technology has allowed for the production of high-efficiency furnaces with desirable AFUEs, which can lower your furnace’s power consumption considerably and help you heat even large spaces without spending too much.
What is the process of making sure your furnace produces the proper number of BTU per hour for your space?
The process of making sure your furnace produces the proper number of Btu per hour for your space is called sizing . You might have heard people talk about sizing a furnace before, and assumed that it had something to do with the physical dimensions of the furnace itself. Not true—furnace sizing is all about matching the Btu rating of a furnace to a home of a given size.
Why is it important to measure the energy produced by a furnace?
Measuring the heat energy produced by your furnace is an incredibly important part of making sure your heating system is efficient. A furnace that produces too many Btu for the space in which you live will use more power than you need, and you’ll end up paying for it when your monthly utility bills arrive. On the other hand, a furnace that doesn’t produce enough Btu will fail to heat your space adequately and may damage itself by working too hard.
Is BTU used anymore?
Btu isn’t used anymore with the exception of heat ing and cooling calculations , at least not in most countries. The British have moved on to Joules, as have most other countries. A few metric-using English-speaking nations such as Canada still use Btu, but only when it comes to furnaces and air conditioners. Other than that, America is pretty well on her own. However, that’s not to say that Btu is going anywhere. The US is a country with 350 million people, and most of them use heaters to stay comfortable when the temperature drops. Make sure you keep your knowledge of Btu fresh for the next time a contractor visits your home.
Is a furnace a steam engine?
However, once Btu enabled this technology to become safer and more efficient, numerous avenues opened up for the invention, production, and sale of related commercial appliances. You might not think that a furnace has much in common with a steam engine, but you would be wrong. Both technologies involve adding heat to air to change its behavior, and that heat is measured in Btu.
Is heating technology new?
Heating technology isn’t new. In fact, heating technology technically predates the start of recorded history, since people have been using fire to warm themselves for far longer than they’ve been using written language. However, the development of heating technology has increased exponentially as humanity refined the science behind heat. Many of the most significant developments occurred quite recently in the grand scheme of things, as the ability to measure heat created incredible applications for it.
Does a BTU rating affect the space in a furnace?
It might seem like a simple matter at first. The higher the Btu rating of a furnace is, the more space it will heat, right? Can’t you just look at any furnace, determine the relationship between its Btu rating and the space it heats, then apply the same relationship to your home and figure out what rating your furnace needs? Well, in a word: no. That would only work if the relationship between furnace Btu ratings and home sizes were proportional.
