HOME TIPS Ask plumber for best size of water heater

KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS
Choosing the right water heater in consultation with your plumber will mean an abundant supply whenever you need it.
"A family of four, each showering five minutes a day, uses 700 gallons of water a week," said Roy Willis, president of the Propane Education and Research Council in Washington. "During the holiday season, these numbers can double."
If your gas water heater was manufactured before 1992, it probably has an efficiency rating of less than 50 percent.
When choosing a new heater, you can save a lot of money over its lifetime if you think about energy efficiency and type before you buy.
Consider the following:
UThe number of people in the family (one person uses 34 to 35 gallons of hot water per day).
UThe number of bathrooms, garden tubs or hot tubs.
UIf you have a washing machine, how many times a day is it run, on average? How about the dishwasher?
UPeak-hour demand is key. How many family members will routinely take a shower in any given hour?
Calculating usage will help you choose what size water heater you need for your home.
"If your tank is too small, you may suffer ... cold showers," Willis said. "If your tank is too large, you'll pay extra to keep unused water heated."