Considering that a water heater can last anywhere between 8 and 20 years, replacing one isn’t something you have to do very often as a homeowner. When it does come time to replace a water heater, it’s normal to feel a little overwhelmed with the amount of options available on the market.
Water heaters come in different sizes, fuel types, and efficiency levels, and the right choice for your Portland home depends on your household, your space, and how you use hot water day to day.
We put together this guide to help you make the right choice. We’ll walk you through what actually matters, so you can feel confident about the decision before you ever call for an estimate.
What to Know:
- Most tank water heaters last 8 to 12 years, tankless units 15 or more, so age is often a good sign it’s time to replace rather than repair.
- Household size and peak hot water usage, not just personal preference, should drive what size unit you buy.
- Tankless works best with modern plumbing and city water. Well water and older galvanized piping can hold it back.
- Tank units cost less upfront and install faster, while tankless offers more comfort and space savings for the right household.
- A bigger tank isn’t always the fix. Sometimes an aging unit just needs to be replaced, not upsized.
First, Make Sure Replacement Is the Right Call
Before you start shopping for a new unit, make sure that your current water heater actually needs to be replaced.
In most cases, it is more cost-effective to simply replace your water heater rather than trying to repair it. Water heaters are built to last for a specific amount of time and then be replaced, not repaired. Most tank water heaters have a lifespan of about 8 to 12 years, while tankless water heaters can last more than 15 years with proper maintenance.
If yours is in that range and starting to act up, replacement is usually the more practical choice. If it’s fairly new and has been reliable, a repair might be all it needs.
Read Next: When to Replace Your Water Heater
4 Things to Consider When Buying a Hot Water Heater
We know that buying a new water heater isn’t something you do often. There are a variety of factors that you should consider when replacing your hot water heater in your Portland home. Here’s what matters most:
1. Size of Water Heater
The size of your water heater has the biggest impact on cost and is what determines whether your household has enough hot water when you need it. If people are getting cold showers, that’s often a sign your current unit is too small, not necessarily broken, and you should consider upgrading the size.
A smaller home or single person can usually get by with a 40-gallon unit. If you have a medium to large Portland home or multiple people living in your household, then you may need a 50-gallon or even an 80-gallon water heater.
One thing to watch out for…
Sometimes a tank just isn’t performing like it used to because it’s getting older, not because it’s the wrong size. Before you size up, consider having a technician confirm whether the tank itself is the issue. It’s also easy to overlook whether your system needs an expansion tank, which is something a plumber can check for you.
Related: 10 Signs Your Water Heater Is Going Out
2. Fuel Source
Water heaters run on either gas or electricity. Gas water heaters require a gas line connection and proper venting, which will add to the cost of installation if your home doesn’t already have one set up. Both gas and electric water heaters are rated by how much gas or electricity is used to heat water. Electric hot water heaters are measured in watts, and gas units are measured in BTUs. In both cases, a higher number means faster heating.
3. Energy Efficiency
Hot water heaters are rated standard, mid, or high efficiency. The rating you’ll see most often is called the Uniform Energy Factor (UEF), which is a national rating system developed by the Department of Energy to help consumers make decisions.
The UEF rating tells you how much hot water the heater can produce in real-world situations, such as the First-Hour Rating (FHR), estimated yearly energy costs, and how they compare to similar water heaters. The higher the UEF, the more energy-efficient a hot water heater is. Energy-efficient models tend to cost more upfront, but they can save you money over time in energy.
4. Space and Installation
If you’re replacing an old water heater with the same type of unit, this is usually straightforward. If you’re upgrading to a larger unit or switching from tank to tankless (or vice versa), you’ll want to make sure the space and connections can support it.
Explore: Water Heater Installation
Deciding Between a Tank vs Tankless Water Heater
Storage tank water heaters keep a supply of hot water ready to go, in sizes ranging from about 20 to 80 gallons. Tankless units, on the other hand, don’t store water at all. Instead, they heat it on demand as it passes through.
This is usually one of the biggest decisions you’ll face when considering a new water heater in Portland. Here are some tips from our consultants that can help you decide:
- Tankless uses a lot more energy on demand. A gas tankless unit runs around 199,000 BTUs versus about 46,000 for a tank unit, and electric tankless units typically need 60 amps of dedicated power, more than many panels have available.
- Tankless shines for comfort and space. If you’re constantly out of hot water, running loads of laundry back to back, or filling a soaker tub, tankless solves that, and it frees up floor space too.
- Tanks are simpler and cheaper upfront. No need to upgrade gas lines, electrical service, or plumbing, and installation is quicker.
- Well water and tankless don’t mix well. Portland’s water generally doesn’t shorten a water heater’s lifespan, but hard water is tough on tankless units specifically. If your home is on a well, we’d recommend sticking with a tank.
- Older plumbing can hold tankless water heaters back. Tankless units adjust their burner based on water flow, so corroded galvanized piping can reduce flow enough to affect performance. Fixing this usually means a new water meter, or simply choosing a tank instead.
“Tankless water heaters work best with modern plumbing systems.”
James L.
Residential Consultant with Jacobs since 2004
Generally speaking, we’d steer you away from tankless if your home has known plumbing issues you’re not planning to fix. Alternatively, if you’re already dealing with long waits for hot water on your current tank, tankless will only make that more noticeable, not less. And if it’s just you living alone with a single bathroom, the upfront cost of switching usually isn’t worth it. The energy savings won’t add up to much for that kind of use.
There’s also a common misconception that tankless means instant hot water, but that’s not the case. A tankless water heater heats water as it’s needed rather than storing it, but there’s still a process involved. It’s also worth thinking beyond your current situation. If your family might grow, or you’re planning a remodel down the road, that’s worth factoring into the decision now rather than after installation.
The bottom line: you have to really want a tankless system for the investment to be worth it. If you’re not sure, we’re happy to walk through your specific home and usage with you!
Read More: Tank vs Tankless Water Heaters
How to Figure Out What Size Water Heater You Need
Being chronically short of hot water could be a sign that your current water heater isn’t the right size for your Portland household. To calculate the size of the water heater you need, take into account the number of people in your household and how much hot water they use.
A good way to think about sizing is to look at your household’s busiest hour for hot water use. This is what is measured by what is called the First-Hour Rating (FHR), which is a measure of how much hot water a water heater can provide in one hour of continuous use. Showers tend to use the most hot water in most households, often up to 20 gallons of water per person. Other appliances and activities in your home, like dishwashers, washing machines, and prepping food, also add to your hot water needs.
Determine what time of day has the highest hot water use and calculate the gallons of water used during that high peak hour.
Example Sizing Calculation
- Two showers at 20 gallons each: 40 gallons
- Dishwasher: 7 gallons
- Food prep: 1 gallon
- Total peak use: 48 gallons
A total of 48 gallons at peak use means this Portland household would need an FHR water heater of 50 gallons or more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a tankless water heater worth it for a small household?
Usually not. The upfront cost is harder to justify if you’re not regularly running short on hot water.
What size water heater do I need?
It depends on your household’s peak hour of hot water use. Most homes fall between 40 and 80 gallons.
Does Portland’s water affect how long a water heater lasts?
Not much overall, but hard water and well water can shorten the life of a tankless unit specifically.
Can I install a new water heater myself?
Water heater installation is not a do-it-yourself job. It’s best left to the professionals at Jacobs Heating & Air Conditioning, who will do the job quickly, efficiently, and up to code. Gas water heaters need to be properly vented, and the gas line needs to be hooked up correctly. One mistake could lead to a dangerous situation.
Water Heater Tune-Up and Replacement Services in Portland
There are many factors that go into deciding when to replace your water heater, and Jacobs Heating & Air Conditioning experts are here to guide you.
We carry a variety of hot water heaters so that your Portland home or business has the best and most efficient water heaters around.
Avoid extra costs and fewer repairs by scheduling a maintenance check for your existing water heating system before issues arise. No matter what you need, we’re always just a phone call away.
