Hot water tanks come in all shapes and sizes. They're designed to handle the needs of each household, but the homeowner will first have to make some careful calculations before they order a new or replacement unit. If you're in this situation, how can you make sure that you pick the correct size and do not run into problems instead?

Determining the Needs of Your Family

To begin the process, take the size of your current household and determine their average consumption habits. Some people may prefer to take a bath at the end of a stressful day, while others like to take a simple shower every other day. A different family member may spend a lot of time away from the property and not require much water at all.

What Does an Average Family Use?

You may want to talk with your local authority or another regulator to see if they have a target consumption rate. For example, in Melbourne, residential water use may be around 159 L per person per day. Perhaps you can use that figure as a benchmark as you make a calculation.

Other Factors to Consider

Also, how many bathrooms do you have on your property? Do people tend to bathe or shower at around the same time each morning? If so, you may have to install a slightly larger hot water system to take into account the peak use. Remember, other appliances may need hot water, including dishwashers or washing machines.

Storage Capacity Matters

You will then need to consider what type of system you want, and this will dictate the type of storage facility required on site. For example, if you want to use hot water that you will have heated up during off-peak hours, you will need a larger tank. In this way, you'll be able to take advantage of lower tariffs but may have to spend more when you install the system at the outset.

What to Do If You Run Into Difficulty

As you can see, there are many different factors to consider before deciding what type of system to introduce. Certainly, you can make your initial calculations, but if you run into problems or are not sure how to proceed, talk with your plumber first. They will have had the experience when installing similar systems for other families in your city and can help you to make the right choice.

For more information about hot water installation, contact a local professional.