When it comes time to replace your old water heater, evaluating your household’s daily hot water usage is an important step to ensure you purchase the right size and type of water heater. An accurate assessment will ensure a consistent supply of hot water without incurring unnecessary energy costs or running out of hot water during peak demand.
Here’s a step-by-step guide from the plumbing experts at Central, Heating, Cooling, Plumbing and Electrical in Kalispell MT that will help you to measure your household’s daily hot water usage.
List All Hot Water-Using Appliances & Fixtures
Start by making a list of every device and fixture in your home that uses hot water. The most common ones include:
- Showers and bathtubs
- Bathroom sinks
- Kitchen sinks
- Dishwashers
- Washing machines
Estimate Usage Per Fixture
Showers & Bathtubs
The average shower uses about 2 gallons of water per minute. If there are four people in your household and each person takes a 10-minute shower daily, that’s 80 gallons of water.
Sinks
On average, bathroom and kitchen sinks use about 1-2 gallons per minute. If you run the hot water for approximately 10 minutes daily for each sink, you’ll consume 10-20 gallons of water for each sink.
Dishwashers
Note that dishwashers also have a heating element that reduces the need for hot water to a large extent, so actual hot water usage will vary depending on the design. Standard ENERGY STAR certified dishwashers use an average of 3-5 gallons of hot water per commonly used cycle. Some more powerful dishwasher cycles may use up to 9 gallons of water. Compact dishwashers that are ENERGY STAR certified use an average of 2.7 gallons per cycle.
Washing Machines
Standard washing machines use about 20 gallons of water per load for larger loads. Factor in how often you use your machine on a weekly basis and divide by seven for a daily estimate.
Calculate Peak Usage Times
It’s not just about total daily usage; it’s also about peak usage. There might be times during the day when multiple hot water fixtures are in use simultaneously. You will want to ensure your water heater can handle these peak demands.
Your plumber can help you calculate the flow rate of a conventional and tankless water heater.
Consider Special Circumstances
Do you often have guests? Are there days when multiple family members might take a bath instead of a shower? Factor in these special circumstances to get an accurate picture.
Total Daily Hot Water Usage
Once you’ve estimated the daily usage for each appliance and fixture, add them together. This total will give you a ballpark figure of your household’s daily hot water consumption.
Monitor and Adjust
For a more accurate measurement of your home’s overall water usage, you can check your water meter:
- Ensure no water is running in the house.
- Check and note down the reading on your water meter.
- Use only hot water for the next hour or so (like taking showers).
- Check the meter again.
- The difference between the two readings is your actual hot water usage for that duration. Extrapolate as needed for a daily estimate.
This is also an effective method for determining if there are hidden water leaks in the house.
Expert Water Heater Installation
The above assessment will serve as a valuable guide when shopping for a new water heater, ensuring efficiency and comfort for years to come.
When installing a new hot water heater, Central Heating Cooling Plumbing and Electrical will factor in your household’s hot water usage as well as inspect your current conventional or tankless unit to accurately calculate your home’s total water usage to ensure your have the right size water heater for your needs.
Call us today for water heater replacement in Kalispell and the surrounding Flathead Valley. We are committed to ensuring you never run out of hot water again!
