Water heater capacity

[lagudo]

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.

[Marc D. Shunk]

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.

[Joseph Hagarty, CMI]

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.....

http://rightspec.bradfordwhite.com/S...sidential.aspx

[bdoles2]

Try using the reference below.

water htr cap03.pdf

[jkogel]

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.

[Joseph Hagarty, CMI]

Originally Posted by jkogel

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?

[Joey D'Adamo]

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?

[Jack L. Gilleland]

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.

[jkogel]

Originally Posted by Joey D'Adamo

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?

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.

[gporter]

Originally Posted by jhagarty

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.....

http://rightspec.bradfordwhite.com/S...sidential.aspx

Outstanding