what size water heater

I have a small 1 br and when things were run by a PM they put in a 70 gallon water heater. Well it's ready to blow and I'd like feedback on what size water heater you install in a small 1 Br.

This is a 4 family and the apartments are usually rented by single professionals, not couples. The other heaters are 40 gal. Would you go with that, or think 30 gal would work? This one will be gas.

--24.194.xx.xx

what size water heater (by Live The Dream [AZ]) Posted on: Mar 23, 2019 6:42 PM
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I'd go 40 gal unless 30 is a lot cheaper. --47.216.xx.xxx

what size water heater (by NE [PA]) Posted on: Mar 23, 2019 6:47 PM
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I only put 30 gallons in 1 bedrooms. They have recommended family size on the side of the boxes. Nice of your property manager to put such a large heater in. Why did they do that? --50.107.xxx.xxx

what size water heater (by DJ [VA]) Posted on: Mar 23, 2019 7:05 PM
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30 or 40 - whichever is less expensive --68.10.xxx.x

what size water heater (by cjl [NY]) Posted on: Mar 23, 2019 7:48 PM
Message:

30 would probably be ok but it would also depend on if there would be two people (ever) in there. If you are putting in a gas it will most likely heat up quicker but what are the other amenities (washer?) or anything else that may use hot water?

It doesn't sound like space is an issue or concern so you don't have to worry about that (which is good). --69.201.xx.xxx

what size water heater (by fred [CA]) Posted on: Mar 23, 2019 7:49 PM
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30 gal is sufficient. --99.59.x.xxx

what size water heater (by Ken [NY]) Posted on: Mar 23, 2019 8:29 PM
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I generally put in a 40 because it is the same price as a 30 or at least it was a year ago.Who was the manager who put in a 70 gallon water heater? --72.231.xxx.xxx

what size water heater (by Vee [OH]) Posted on: Mar 23, 2019 9:17 PM
Message:

With widespread use of the braided flex lines using any size tank is pretty easy these days, a 40 would be my choice based on popularity which keeps the price very close to a 30 if not the same. The former management must have made the 70 gallon mistake on another client but that is rust in the wind now, move forward and be sure the flue pipe is cemented to the chimney aimed uphill from the tank which should be easy if a 70 was there before.

--76.188.xxx.x

what size water heater (by BRAD 20,000 [IN]) Posted on: Mar 23, 2019 9:23 PM
Message:

Taters,

70 gallon!?! Really!?! What were they thinking!?!

BRAD --73.102.xxx.xxx

what size water heater (by don [PA]) Posted on: Mar 23, 2019 9:24 PM
Message:

at homedepot 40's cheaper than 30's --73.141.xxx.xx

what size water heater (by Steve [MA]) Posted on: Mar 24, 2019 4:12 AM
Message:

Curious how do you know "it's ready to blow"?

IMO either the manager had one to get rid of or didn't have a clue about sizing WHs when they allowed a 70 gallon WH to be installed.

I would use a 40 gallon WH for several reasons. It's a common size, easy to obtain, priced at or below a 30 gallon WH and I usually keep a spare in stock. When the new one gets installed make sure you use ball valves & flex connectors. --96.237.xx.xx

what size water heater (by LindaJ [NY]) Posted on: Mar 24, 2019 4:36 AM
Message:

Which ever is the better buy, easier to get, but I would say 40 fits that description. --108.4.xxx.xx

what size water heater (by AllyM [NJ]) Posted on: Mar 24, 2019 6:56 AM
Message:

The plumber installs 40 gals in all mine. The last ones I put in were all electric because the code changed as to the size pipe that has to run to the chimney. It went from 3 inches to four inches. So that chimney has the metal liner and it would have been hell to rip out the walls in the basement again to recut the holes. Plus I have one for each tenant there and one for the washer. --173.61.xxx.xx

what size water heater (by small potatoes [NY]) Posted on: Mar 24, 2019 7:25 AM
Message:

Thanks everyone. There is no W&D in the unit.

There was no rhyme or reason to many things the PM did, mostly due to inexperienced help and lack of oversight. For all I know they took a 70 gal heater out of another bldg and billed me for a new heater or more likely got a good deal.

I know it's going south because it is leaking from the top, where there is an extra plugged hole and there is a rusty bulge on the side. I had never noticed the condition because a former tenant wrapped the tank in foil insulation. He was upset that he was paying to heat all that water. I know the leak is fresh because I was in the basement 2 weeks ago when I was getting an apt ready to rent. It is from 2004, so it is an old dog. --24.194.xx.xx

what size water heater (by Landlord ofthe Flies [TX]) Posted on: Mar 24, 2019 3:49 PM
Message:

Can you go tankless and not worry about it? --108.69.xxx.xxx

what size water heater (by small potatoes [NY]) Posted on: Mar 24, 2019 6:27 PM
Message:

my understanding is that tankless is higher maintenance because of mineralization from the water. My municipality does not have hard water, but there can be a lot of sediment. They flush pipes at least once a year and there is always the random faucet that gets affected. Besides there are 3 other HW tanks in the basement.

Q- anyone have a tankless heater in a rental? --24.194.xx.xx

what size water heater (by Steve [MA]) Posted on: Mar 25, 2019 3:31 AM
Message:

In some of my units I use a 40 gallon indirect super store WH that uses the boiler for it's heat source. When you factor in the extra expense of adding another circulator these are more expensive than a conventional gas WH for the initial installation. However they cost less to run, last longer, provide more hot water than a conventional gas WH and are almost maintenance free.

The last 6 that I did ended up costing about the same as new 40 gallon gas WH when you factor in the utility rebates that I received. In my area all of the utilities offer decent rebates for them. I imagine since they are so energy efficient that utilities in other states have similar programs. --96.237.xx.xx

what size water heater (by Wilma [PA]) Posted on: Mar 25, 2019 10:19 AM
Message:

Whatever you choose, measure twice the dimensions of the space. The newer water heaters are more insulated, and thus fatter or taller than the old ones. So you choose what fits in the space if the 40 is too wide/tall.

--71.175.xxx.xxx

what size water heater (by small potatoes [NY]) Posted on: Mar 25, 2019 1:06 PM
Message:

I'll see about the size. The new 40 is prolly close in diameter to the old 70! --24.194.xx.xx

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