Hot showers are some of the most beautiful experiences we can find in our home, and depending on the day, in the whole world. Unfortunately, our hot water heaters aren’t magic devices that can create an endless supply of hot water. They take time to turn water far too cold to enjoy in a shower into the steamy goodness we all love. However, not all water heaters are the same, so it’s important to know how long you need to wait when their supply runs out. While they can vary in size, the most common size of water heater is 40 gallons, which is what we’ll be using here when talking about how fast they work. The bigger the heater, the longer they take to heat up the water.
Gas Heater
The average gas heater takes between 30 and 40 minutes to fully heat up the water in its tank.
Electric Heater
The average electric heater takes about twice as long as the average gas heater to fully heat up the water in its tank, so you can expect it to take between an hour and an hour and 20 minutes to heat up.
Solar Heater
Because solar heaters are typically connected to an electric water heater, they should take a similar amount of time – between an hour and an hour and 20 minutes – to heat up. However, if they don’t have a backup energy source, a cloudy day could mean that you won’t be getting any hot water for quite some time.
Tankless Heater
Theoretically, a tankless water heater will provide your home with a limitless supply of hot water with next to no warmup time. This is relatively new technology, so it may not be perfect, but who doesn’t love the idea of never needing to wait for the shower to heat up again?
What if the Water Heater Is Slow to Heat Up?
If it takes a long time for your water to heat up, it could be due to several factors, not all of which indicate a problem with the heater. Remember that with a tankless heater, the water is warmed as it passes through the unit, and then the water has to travel to your faucets. If you have a tank water heater, and you’ve been using a lot of hot water on a particular day, you may have to wait for another tankful to heat before you can take a hot shower.
Other reasons your water heater might seem slow to heat up include:
Water Heater Size
With a tank water heater, it’s important to make sure it’s properly sized for your household. The average capacity tank found in most homes is 40 gallons. Heating this amount of water typically takes 30–40 minutes with a gas heater, while an electric unit can take up to 1 hour 20 minutes. If your household is large and you use a lot of hot water, you may need a larger-capacity water heater.
Water Heater Age
An older tank water heater can be less efficient than a newer one. Limescale buildup on the elements can cause the appliance to take longer heating water. Sediment buildup in the tank is another common problem with older units. Both issues can reduce the amount of available hot water and affect the water heater’s performance.
Water Pipe Diameter
The larger the diameter of the pipes in your home, the more cold water they can contain, which needs to be flushed out before hot water arrives when you open a faucet. This can occur whether you have a tank or tankless water heater. If it seems to take a long time for hot water to reach your faucets, ask a plumber whether the diameter of your pipes could be the cause.
Size of the Home
Just as the size of your water pipes matters, so too does their length. If you have a large home, it may take longer for hot water to flow from the faucets farthest away from your tank or tankless water heater. Adding a second heater or moving the existing unit closer to your most-used fixtures could help improve this issue.
No matter what type of water heater you have installed in your home, it’s important to keep it in tip-top shape through constant maintenance and care. For all of your water heater needs, contact bluefrog Plumbing + Drain to schedule your free home plumbing evaluation. Find your closest bluefrog Plumbing + Drain location through our search page, or call us at 1-844-HOP-TO-IT to schedule your evaluation today.
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