Is there a code that states what the minimum capacity of a water heater should be in a 4 full bathroom home. This home has a 50 gallon capacity NG water heater. I have looked in the code book but can’t find a thing. I have seen a chart saying it should be 66-75 gal. capacity. Does anyone have any info on this.
There is no code that even requires a water heater at all. It only says means shall be provided to heat water. That could be a pot on the range.
Louis,
Bradford White has a Residential sizing Guide.
Type in the Info and you receive three options…
I have been using this for many years to the Satisfaction of many Home Buyers…
These 2 100 gal electric HW tanks with the nice copper plumbing supply 29 units in a condo, that’s less than 5 gal/bath. Mind you these are Canadian gallons.
Grossly Inadequate.
What is the Question?
Could one not employ those two 100 gal tanks with a mixing valve such that the tanks produce extremely hot water, then water it down some with cold… thus stretching it… perhaps by double? Suppose they have a half-decent recovery time and it all might work out ok… no?
I’ve seen individual units in a multifamily piped in sections to smaller water heaters and then the typical central hi capacity heaters. A lot of time it depends on who is paying for electric or gas. I’m not sure you could sell a new house without a WH, although you could call it energy efficient.
Brians pdf is a pretty good rule of thumb, but it could depend on the buyer too.
The building manager says there’s always plenty of hot water for everybody. I wasn’t questioning this, the building has been occupied for 25 years. That chart is based on a temp setting of only 100 degrees F, by the way. I’m sure these tanks are set to run hotter.
Outstanding