“I think that tankless water heaters are good for large families. It’s more environmentally friendly and it can save energy.” said the dad at the table with a huge smile on his face. “It also has better controls, so you don’t have to worry about your kids wasting water.” he added.
That’s what my dad said long ago when we tried switched to a tankless water heater. Was it worth it? Did it work for a large family like ours? Read on to find out.
Are Tankless Water Heaters Good For Large Families?
If you have a large family of 5 or more people, you should think about switching to a tankless water heater. This will be the right choice for a number of reasons. The main one is that tankless water heating units are set up naturally for the needs of a much larger family. The level of efficiency is set much higher.
Your family members have a tendency to use a lot of water. Several family members may want to cook, run the dishwasher, or take a shower at the same time. You will require a great deal more hot water than usual in order to meet their needs. This is a demand from a larger than normal family that a tankless water heater is set up to satisfy.
What Size Tankless Water Heater Do I Need For A Family Of 5?
The exact size of the tankless water heater you will need for a family of 5 will vary according to where you live. For example, if you have a family of 5 in the northern part of the country, you’ll need a larger heater. The average size for your needs under these conditions will be about 10 GPM gas or 27 kw electric.
On the other hand, your needs will be slightly different if you live in a much warmer part of the country such as the south or southwest. Up north, your tankless water heater has to work hard to create a temperature of 110 to 120 F. In the south, it won’t have to exert itself quite so hard. The size can be reduced by 30 percent.
This would mean that a family of 5 in the south can use a 7 GPM gas tankless heater or an 18 kw tankless heater. This smaller heater should be able to produce more than enough power to satisfy the hot water needs of every member of your family. You can buy a larger or smaller heater as the needs of your family increase or decrease.
What Size Tankless Water Heater Do I Need For A Family Of 4?
For a family of 4, you will need a large tankless water heater that can supply a rise in your water temperature of at least 43 degrees. This is based on the fact that you need to have hot water supplied to at least two appliances and two showers running at the same time. This creates a need for a maximum GPM gain of 6.5 for a 4 person home.
The average temperature rise of 43 degrees is calculated on the need to supply a high level of hot water in a moderate to hot southern state. For the needs of a family of 4 in a colder northern state, it may have to be adjusted to a higher degree such as 53 to 63. It’s a good idea to shop for a heater that can supply this adjustment.
Can A Tankless Water Heater Fill A Tub? How Many Tubs A Day?
The answer to this question is an absolute yes. But this holds true only if you are only using your tankless water heater for the task of filling up your tub. It won’t be true if you are also using hot water to power another fixture or appliance at the very same time. If this is the case, you will need to wait to get your tub fully filled.
The answer to the question of how many tubs it can fill will depend on a number of factors. These include the size of your water heater and whether or not you are running other appliances or fixtures at the same time. If you are running nothing else, you can keep filling up your tub again and again all day with no end in sight.
Can A Tankless Water Heater Work For The Whole House?
Many people seem to think that a tankless water heater is not designed to supply hot water for the entire house. This may have been true for many models in the past. But in the last few years, the basic design of these models has seen a serious upgrade. As a result, your tankless water heater can easily supply water for the whole house.
How Long Does A Tankless Water Heater Last For A Large 5+ Family?
The average life span of a tankless water heater should be about 20 years. However, this is a figure that is based on several key factors. The 20 year average will assume that you are using the heater on a moderate basis. It also assumes that you provide a bit of upkeep on your model. Doing so will help it reach a lifespan of two decades.
If you have a tankless heater in your home for your larger than normal family, the above figure may not hold good. This is all the more true if you are using your tankless water heater more than the average level. In this case, you should probably expect your tankless heater to last between 12 to 15 years with a bit of maintenance.
Can You Oversize A Tankless Water Heater?
Even if you have a larger family, it’s still a very good idea to buy the correctly sized tankless water heater for your home. You don’t want to make the mistake of buying one that is too larger for the needs of your family. This is because, in a case like this, larger does not equal better. You’ll actually be wasting money and energy.
This is due to the fact that a tankless water heater costs a large amount of energy. You don’t want to buy one that actually creates too much hot water because it will simply be a waste. You will end up paying more than you need to. It’s better to pay for what you actually use.