Electric Water Heaters (2023)

FAQs

Why is my electric water heater not getting hot enough? ›

When the water's not hot enough, the problem can be an undersized water heater, crossed hot and cold connections, or a faulty heating element or thermostat. To rule out an undersized heater, check to make sure the heater has 75 percent of its capacity as hot water.

One of the most common problems with electric water heaters is a failed heating element, which results in little to no heat production. Fortunately, it is an inexpensive part that is relatively easy to replace with DIY water heater repair.

For example, a family of 3 to 4 people should purchase a 50 – 60 gallon water heater. On the other hand, a household with 5 – 7 people may require a water heater with a 60 – 80 gallon water tank.

A broken internal heating element

Electric water heaters generally have two heating elements. If one of them breaks, the other will have to work twice as hard and this makes it less efficient at heating the water. If the water is constantly lukewarm, it usually indicates a problem with the upper heating element.

If you are getting lukewarm water, it is usually an issue with the upper heating element, which might have burned out or it could be defective. If the issue is with the thermostat, you may simply need to turn up the temperature.

With regular inspection, draining, and flushing, you can expect a gas water heater to last anywhere from 8-12 years and an electric water heater to last anywhere from 10-15 years.

Water heaters are among the highest energy-consuming appliances in your home. Energy star predicts that households spend between $400 and $600 on heating water every year for things like laundry, showers, and washing dishes, making water heaters the second most energy-consuming appliance in your home.

If your shower is running out of hot water, it's likely due to one of the following problems: Malfunctioning thermostat. Broken dip tube. Sediment buildup in the tank.

You're overusing hot water. The water heater tank size is too small for your household. Your hot water heater is tankless. Sediment or minerals have built up in your water heating system.

Why is the water in my shower not hot enough? ›

Check your Water Heater

Your problem could be as simple as the temperature setting being programmed to a low level. Or, with electric water heaters, you might find that an element is worn down, causing the water to only heat up for a short amount of time, or not at all in some instances.

On average, hand washing takes about two gallons, Running the dishwasher uses 14 gallons, bathing/showering per person is 20 gallons, and washing a load of laundry is 30 gallons. So if you're in a family of four, a 50-gallon water tank should cover all those showers and washings.

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.

A small (50- to 60-gallon) storage tank is usually sufficient for one to two three people. A medium (80-gallon) storage tank works well for three to four people.

Water Heater Is Hot to Touch

Even though it's designed to boil water, your water heater shouldn't get so hot that you can't touch it. Water heaters are designed to be well insulated so that heat stays in. A water heater that gets too hot could have one of several issues, including: A blocked flue.

120 degrees Fahrenheit is the safety recommendation against scalding, but 140° is the common default setting. Most experts agree that anything below 120 degrees creates a risk for bacteria to develop inside your water heater from stagnant water, such as legionella that causes Legionnaire's disease.

If your washers in your shower valve are worn down, you may not be getting the right balance of hot and cold water. Thankfully, it's relatively easy to replace your washers and therefore eliminate your problem. If you're not confident about completing this task yourself, you can get a professional plumber to help you.

What's most likely happening is a problem with the shower's mixing valve. The mixing valve is a control valve that creates the balance in the flow of water from the hot water line and the cold water line and blends the two together for your desired shower temperature.

The Rheem Marathon is the best electric water heater on the market today. Its guaranteed 40-year life-span implies it will be the last water heater purchased by homeowners, avoiding the need to replace a water heater every 10 years.

How long should a 50 gallon electric water heater last? ›

A 50-gallon water heater will last about 8 to 20 years, which is longer than most water heaters. An extra 10 gallons might not seem like a huge difference. But choosing a 50-gallon water heater also means choosing a more cost-efficient water heater.

Here's the catch: Modern water heaters are well-insulated meaning there is very little heat loss. Although electrical rates vary, the experts say turning off the water heater at night will likely save about two dollars a month.

Turning off your water heater, like many other electrical appliances, can save you money each month on your bill. A small amount of heat escapes when the water heater is turned on, even though it's well insulated. Typically, this loss of energy is about 10 percent of your bill.

New Water Heaters and Efficiency. Traditional water heaters that are more than 15 years old are likely to be much less efficient than new ones.

According to the Department of Energy, based on the assumption that an electric water heater runs for an average of about three hours per day, a 50-gallon water heater, running at 5,500 watts, with an electricity rate of $0.16 per kWh, will have an annual operation cost of $781.

Water Heater Lifespan

If your tank water heater is more than 10 years old, it may be time to consider replacing it. With proper maintenance, a tank water heater tank should last six to 12 years. A tankless water heater can last for more than 20 years.

A professional can sometimes repair these issues, but if your water heater is older, you'll need replacement. For example, a 20-year-old water heater is nearing the end of its service life and will need to be replaced even if repairs are possible.

As mentioned above, several things can cause a home's hot water supply to run out faster than it should. The three most common culprits are sediment build up, a faulty heating element and a broken dip tube.

Your shower has faulty pressure-balancing valves.

Faulty valves are common causes of temperature fluctuations in the shower. The pressure-balancing valves, also known as thermostatic mixing valves (TMV), blend cold water with hot water to provide constant and safe shower temperatures, preventing scalding.

A shower should last anywhere from 10-15 minutes with a 40 gallon water heater. This can vary depending on the water temperature, the size of the showerhead, and how many people are showering.

Will turning up water heater make hot water last longer? ›

The answer is yes, turning up your water heater will make your hot water last longer because of the higher temperature; less hot water is needed to mix with the cold water to reach your desired temperature.

If a standard showerhead is fitted, it will use around an extra half a gallon each minute, accounting for a 25-gallon emittance every 10 minutes, or 50 gallons throughout a 20-minute shower.

Generally, taking a shower uses less water than a full bath. A standard showerhead flows at a rate of 2.5 gallons per minute . This means that a ten-minute shower only uses 25 gallons of water.

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.

A 30 gallon water heater should be able to supply enough hot water to meet the needs of a household of 1 -2 people with only one bathroom. A good way of measuring your hot water requirements is calculate your peak hot water usage and compare it the first hour rating of a water heater.

Say your electric heater is 30 gallons. If the previous shower lasted 15 minutes, you're looking at about four minutes of hot water remaining. If you want to loll in your own 15-minute shower, you'll need to wait 47 minutes before stepping in. (Gas units heat faster, so multiply by 1.9 instead of 4.3.)

What size of a house is a 40-gallon water heater good for? Based on typical water usage, a 40-gallon water heater should provide enough daily hot water for 2-4 people in a household.

3 - 4 people, you'll need at least a 50-gallon capacity tank (electric) or a 40-gallon capacity tank (natural gas or liquid propane). 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).

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.

Is a 40-gallon water heater enough for a 3 bedroom house? ›

Storage capacity is more of a concern with a tank water heater. 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.

Regardless of what type of water heater tank you have, every system needs regular maintenance. Usually, you need to check your water heater once or twice per year. Gas, electric and tankless water heaters need to be flushed every 6-12 months. This prevents the buildup of sediment, rust and corrosion.

How long should a hot water heater last? Many homeowners wonder “How often should a hot water heater be replaced?” In a typical situation, you should expect your water heater to last about ten years.

Tankless water heaters typically have a lifespan of 20 years or more. Traditional water heaters with standing water tanks can last around 10 to 15 years before you notice signs of age.

Here's the catch: Modern water heaters are well-insulated meaning there is very little heat loss. Although electrical rates vary, the experts say turning off the water heater at night will likely save about two dollars a month.

An electric hot water heater is even more of an energy hog. And that gets worse with time. Usually, as a water heater ages, it becomes less efficient. Lime deposits, which come from the water in the tank, build up on the bottom of the heater's tank.

According to Energy.gov, “For homes that use 41 gallons or less of hot water daily, demand (or tankless) water heaters can be 24% to 34% more energy efficient than conventional storage tank water heaters.” Tankless water heaters (if gas-fired) will save homeowners over $100 annually the longer they remain in service.

If you have a tight budget, you might be reluctant to replace your water heater before it fails completely. However, the simple fact is that all water heaters stop working eventually. While you want to get the longest service life for your money, waiting until the appliance breaks down may not be worth the hassle.

A 50-gallon water heater will last about 8 to 20 years, which is longer than most water heaters. An extra 10 gallons might not seem like a huge difference. But choosing a 50-gallon water heater also means choosing a more cost-efficient water heater.

Can you adjust the thermostat on an electric water heater? ›

Gas or electric water heaters

Find the access panel for the thermostat(s) and use a screwdriver to remove the panel. Peel back the insulation. Use a flathead screwdriver to adjust the thermostat up or down. If your water heater has two thermostats, adjust both the same amount.

120 degrees Fahrenheit is the safety recommendation against scalding, but 140° is the common default setting. Most experts agree that anything below 120 degrees creates a risk for bacteria to develop inside your water heater from stagnant water, such as legionella that causes Legionnaire's disease.