Water Heaters & Tanks in Vancouver

Here is some basic information about traditional water heaters.

Water Heater Power

Traditional water heaters are usually powered by either gas or electricity.

Did you know: 80% of water heaters in Greater Vancouver are gas powered?

Hot Water Tank Sizes

The most common commercial and residential water tanks sizes are:

• 40 gallon
• 50 gallon
• 60 gallon
• 65 gallon

Did you know: Most residential water heaters in Vancouver are either 40 or 50 gallons?

Larger tanks are generally found in larger homes, but you can upsize or downsize at any time for various reasons. Perhaps you recently installed a large soaker tub, or installed a new suite in your home and need more hot water.  We would then recommend upsizing to a larger water heater.

Especially when installing a larger tank, we will check the size of the gas vent. Larger tanks emit more carbon monoxide and will require a larger vent to vent this harmful gas away from your family.

Smaller water heater tanks

You can install smaller 2, 4, 6, 20, 25, 20, or 30 gallon water tanks to supplement your regular water heater system or to use for specific purposes. For example, a small tank can be installed under your kitchen sink (sometimes known as a “lowboy”) for hot water dedicated to that sink. These smaller water tanks are generally only available in electric powered.

Comparing water heater tanks

When choosing a hot water heater, look at 4 different features:

Comparison	Definition	In Electric Powered Tanks…	In Gas Powered Tanks…	Recommendation
Efficiency Rating	the percentage of heat transfer from the energy source to your water	88-95% (water is heated through heating elements placed inside the tank )	55-65% (water is heated below the tank through a gas burner).	Look for a higher efficiency rating percentage.
Recovery Rate	amount of hot water the tank can produce in 1 hour (with 90oF increase in water temperature)	20-22 gallons/hr	30-40 gallons/hr	Gas tanks produce more hot water, faster
First Hour Rating	amount of hot water the tank can produce in 1 hour of continuous usage	50 gallon tank, ranges 70-80 gallons	50 gallon tank around 60 gallons	Depends on your needs
Estimated Operating Costs	Cost to run the water heater per year	(@ $0.086 kilowatt/hr) About $400/yr	(@ 0.50/therm) About $120-130 per year	Depends on your budget

Water Heater Permit Requirements

You may require a permit to have your water heater replaced or installed. Water Heater rescue can help with the permit application. Learn more about Water Heater Permits.