Vancouver Gas Water Heaters & Tanks
Gas water heaters can provide more efficient and a higher capacity of hot water, but can be more expensive to operate:
When comparing gas hot water heaters, look for the following features:
| Comparison | Definition | In Gas Powered Tanks… |
| Efficiency Rating | the percentage of heat transfer from the energy source to your water | 55-65% (water is heated below the tank through a gas burner). |
| Recovery Rate | amount of hot water the tank can produce in 1 hour (with 90oF increase in water temperature) | 30-40 gallons/hr |
| First Hour Rating | amount of hot water the tank can produce in 1 hour of continuous usage | 50 gallon tank around 60 gallons |
| Estimated Operating Costs | Cost to run the water heater per year | (@ 0.50/therm)
About $120-130 per year |
Safety codes for gas water heaters
- Adequate Venting: Gas powered water tanks vent harmful carbon monoxide (CO) that must be vented safely from your home. When replacing your tank with one smaller or larger, we may need to adjust the size of the vents to ensure proper and safe venting.
- Stand: Some municipalities may require your water tank be elevated on a stand, not sitting directly on the ground. Most water heaters are “FVIR” (flammable vapour ignition resistant) and don’t technically need to be elevated. However, many municipalities may still have bylaws requiring water tanks be elevated
- Drip Leg: Many manufacturers require that we install a sediment trap or drip leg on the gas line. This is installed as close to the inlet as possible and will help prevent moisture and debris from entering your tank firing chamber