SIZING OF

WATER
HEATERS

Randy L. Aman
Civil Engineer
Registered Master Plumber
Real Estate Broker
PSPE National Auditor
PSPE Camarines Chapter President 2008
NAMPAP National Director 2004 & 2006
NAMPAP Camarines Naga City Chapter
President 2003
PICE Naga City Chapter President 2004

WATER HEATING
Water heating is a thermodynamic
process using an energy source to
heat water above its initial
temperature.
Typical domestic uses of hot water are
for cooking, cleaning and bathing.
Domestically, water is traditionally
heated in vessels known as kettles,
cauldrons and pots.

TRADITIONAL WATER
HEATERS

Kettle

cauldron

pot

In industry, both hot water and water

heated to steam have many uses.
Appliances for providing a more-orless constant supply of hot water
are variously known as water
heaters, boilers, heat exchangers,
calorifiers, or geysers.
These are Mechanical Engineers
task.

TYPES OF WATER
HEATERS
1.Conventional or storage water
heater
2.Solar water heater
3.Storage and heat pump water
heater
4.On-demand or tankless or
instataneous water heater
5.Pool water heater

Conventional or Storage
Water Heater

Electric

Gas-fired

Oil-fired

Solar Water Heater

Passive Type with

Evacuated Tube Collector

Active Type with

Flat-plate Collector

Storage and Heat Pump

Water Heater

Storage tank

Heat pump

On-demand or tankless or
Instataneous Water Heater

Single Point

Multi-point

Pool Water Heater

Electric

Solar

Before buying a new water

heater,
you need to consider the
following:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Size or FHR (First Hour Rating)

Energy efficiency
Fuel type and availability
Costs

IMPT. FACTORS OF
WATER HEATER
The Energy Factor
Energy Factor (EF) is an overall
efficiency rating of the water heater.
The higher the EF, the more efficient
the model. Water heaters with high EF
ratings may cost more initially but save
energy and money in the long run.
Eventually, they will pay for themselves
through a lifetime of energy savings.

First Hour Rating

Another important factor in choosing a water

heater. The 1st Hour Rating is an indicator of
how much hot water a particular model can
provide. The rating, in gallons of usable
(desired temperature) hot water is reached
by combining the amount of usable hot water
stored in the tank plus how many gallons of
usable hot water the water heater can
generate in one hour of operation. For
example, if a 40-gallon natural gas water
heater will store 31 gallons of usable hot
water and can deliver 41 gallons of usable
hot water in the first hour, its 1st Hour
Rating is 72 gallons. 1st Hour Ratings are
included in the Energy Factor charts.

ENERGY SOURCES FOR

HEATING WATER
Natural gas or liquefied
petroleum gas
Oil or solid fuels
Electricity
Solar energy
Heat pumps
Hot water heat recycling
Geothermal heating

WATER HEATING IN SOME

COUNTRIES

Geothermal heating and hot water heat recycling

SIZING OF STORAGE WATER

HEATER

Basic Equation:
Q = W x cp x t
Where:
Q = time rated heat transfer, Btu/hr
W = weight of heated water, lbs/hr
cp = specific heat of water at
standard
condition, say 1 Btu/lbF
t = change of heated temp of
water F

The British thermal unit (BTU or Btu) is a

traditional unit of energy. It is
approximately the amount of energy
needed to heat one pound of water one
degree Fahrenheit. One Btu is equal to
about 1.06 kilojoules. It is used in the
power, steam generation, heating and airconditioning industries.
Farenheit/Celsius Convertion Formula:
C = (F 32) x 5/9
F = C x 9/5 + 32

SAMPLE PROBLEM
Design the water heater of a 4storey hotel with 60
guestrooms.
SOLUTION:
Hot water loads of a hotel
1. Guest rooms demand
2. Food service demand
3. Laundry demand

ASSUMPTIONS:
Number of Person per Room:
Convention hotel 1.5 person/room
Business/travellers hotel 1.5
person/room
General occupancy hotel 2
person/room
Peak Demand Period:
Convention hotel 1 hour peak
Business/travellers hotel 1 hour peak
General occupancy hotel 2 hours
peak

GIVEN:
no. of guestroom 60 rooms
no. of person/room
1.5 (assumed)
% of guests shower at
peak time 70% (assumed)
ave. shower time 5 min (assumed)
max. flow of shower 2.5 gpm
supply water temp
68 F or 20C
hot water temp
105 F or 40.5C
Note: hot water to be stored at 140F or
60C
and delivered to guest room at 105F or
40.5C

COMPUTATION FOR STORAGE WATER

HEATER:
Total no. of guests = 60 rms x 1.5 guest/room
= 90 guests
% of guests showering per hour = 90 x 0.70
= 63 guests per hour
Vol. of hot water = 63 x 5min/guest x 2.5gpm
= 787 gal of 105F at peak
Since stored water is 140F; equivalent volume is
Vol = (105 68) x 787 gal = 364 gal
(140 68)

Q = 364gal/hr x 8.33lb/gal x 1Btu/lbF x

(140-68)F
= 218,313 Btu/hr
If Energy Factor of Water Heater is 0.90
then
Q = 218,313 = 242,570 Btu/hr
0.90
In KW: 242,570 Btu/hr =
3,413 Btu/KW.hr

71 KW

Properly size supply and recirculation system

is
necessary for efficient and economical
operation
Over sizing the system will cause increased
installation costs for equipment and
materials, and create additional heat
losses, lessening efficiency.
Under sizing the system will seriously
hamper effective circulation, which means
adequate hot water will not be available at
all fixtures.

SIMPLE METHOD FOR

SIZING RECIRCULATING
PUMPS
1 gpm for 20 fixtures units
0.5 gpm for each or 1 riser
1 gpm for each 1 or 1
riser
2 gpm for each 2 riser

SIZING OF SOLAR WATER

HEATER

FACTORS OF SOLAR WATER HEATER:

1. Economics
2. Geographic location and solar resource
3. Correct system size
4. Building structure
ACTIVE SOLAR WATER HEATER:
- Storage tank as per requirement per day
- 1.5 gal per square foot of collector

SIZING OF SOLAR WATER

HEATER
PASSIVE SOLAR WATER HEATER:
Storage Tank:
30 gal cap 1 to 2 persons
60 gal cap 2 to 3 persons
80 gal cap 3 to 4 persons
Collector Area for Tropical Countries:
- 20 ft for first two family members
- add 8 ft for each additional family
members

COMPUTATION FOR SOLAR WATER HEATER:

Total no. of guests = 60 rms x 1.5 guest/room
= 90 guests
Vol. of hot water = 90 x 5min/guest x 2.5gpm
= 1,125 gal of 105F at peak
Since stored water is 140F; equivalent volume is
Vol = (105 68) x 1,125 gal = 578 gal
(140 68)
Collector Area = 578 gal
= 385 ft
1.5gal/ft

SIZING OF HEAT PUMP WATER

HEATER

Heat pump water heaters require

installation in locations that remain in
the 40F 90F (4.4C 32.2C) range
year-round and provide at least 1,000
cubic feet (28.3 cubic meters) of air
space around the water heater.
In sizing the water heat pump
requirement, use the Btu/hr or kW
capacity of the water heat pump but
do not use the peak load alone, use a
whole day hot water requirement.

COMPUTATION FOR SOLAR WATER HEATER:

Total no. of guests = 60 rms x 1.5 guest/room
= 90 guests
Vol. of hot water = 90 x 5min/guest x 2.5gpm
= 1,125 gal of 105F at peak
Since stored water is 140F; equivalent volume is
Vol = (105 68) x 1,125 gal = 578 gal
(140 68)
Q = 578gal/hr x 8.33lb/gal x 1Btu/lbF x (140-68)F
Q = 346,661 Btu/hr
In KW: 346,661 Btu/hr = 101 KW
3,413 Btu/KW.hr

FACTORS OF DEMAND (TANKLESS

OR INSTANTANEOUS) WATER
Advantages HEATER
of Tankless:

Continuous hot water

Uses energy only when hot
water is
demanded
Lower energy costs (11% - 60%
energy savings)
Designed to last 20 years
Smaller than hot water tank
units, saving
floor space

FACTORS OF DEMAND (TANKLESS

OR INSTANTANEOUS) WATER
Disadvantages HEATER
of Tankless:
Must size the unit correctly to avoid losing hot
water
May need more than one tankless unit to heat
water for more than one shower
More expensive than hot water tank units
May need to limit the flow of water to properly
heat water (for example, to fill a tub)
Existing gas and water lines may need to be
increased in size
Need to be serviced periodically (to clean
scale build-up)
More complex/difficult to service than standard
water heater

SIZING OF DEMAND (TANKLESS OR

INSTANTANEOUS) WATER HEATER
Demand (tankless or instataneous) water
heaters are rated by the maximum
temperature rise possible at a given
flow rate. Therefore, to size a demand
water heater, you need to determine
the flow rate and the temperature rise
youll need for its application (whole
house or a remote application, such as
just a bathroom) in your home.

SIZING OF DEMAND (TANKLESS OR

INSTANTANEOUS) WATER HEATER
Typically, a 70F (39C) water
temperature rise is possible at a flow
rate of 5 gallons per minute through
gas-fired demand water heaters and 2
gallons per minute through electric
ones.
Faster flow rates or cooler inlet
temperatures can sometimes reduce the
water temperature at the most distant
faucet.To reduce flow rates, install lowflow water fixtures.

ARISTON INSTANTANEOUS WATER HEATER

SPECIFICATION
Specifications
Tank Volume
Dimensions

GL 2.5
2.5 Gallons
14x14x 10"

GL4
4 Gallons

GL6 PLUS
6 Gallons

14x14x12

17x17x 14

Recovery at
8 GPH*
90F Rise Water
Connections
inch NPT
NPT
Relief Valve
installed
included

10.5 GPH*
inch NPT

12.5 GPH*
inch

installed

*Gallons Per Hour - First Hour Recovery

All Units: Voltage 110/120 Volts Phase Single Amperage

12.5 amps Temperatures 65 - 145F Heating Capacity
1500 Watts Operating Pressure 150 psi

MOST INSTANTANEOUS WATER HEATER

SPECIFICATION

Power Rating = 4,500W or 4.5kW

Convert kW to Btu/hr = 4.5 x 3,413 = 15,358.5
Btu/hr
Q = W x cp x t
then W =
Q
=
15,358.5_
cp x t
1 x (105 -68)
Q = 415 lbs = __415 lbs/hr_ = 49.82 gal/hr
8.33lbs/gal
Q = 49.82 gal/hr = 0.83 gpm
60min/hr

SIZING A GAS OR HEAT PUMP

SWIMMING POOL HEATER

Gas pool heaters are rated by Btu

(British thermal unit) output.
Outputs range from 75,000 Btu to
450,000 Btu.
Heat pump pool heaters are rated
by Btu output and horsepower
(hp). Standard sizes include 3.5
hp/75,000 Btu, 5 hp/100,000 Btu,
and 6 hp/125,000 Btu.

Calculating Approximate
Size
Determine your desired swimming pool

temperature.
Determine the average temperature for
the coldest month of pool use.
Subtract the average temperature for the
coldest month from the desired pool
temperature. This will give you the
temperature rise needed.
Calculate the pool surface area in square
feet.
Use the following formula to determine
the Btu/hour output requirement of the
heater:

Btu/Hr = Pool Area x Temp

Rise x 12
This formula is based on 1 to
1.25F temperature rise per
hour and a 3.5 mile per hour
average wind at the pool
surface. For a 1.5F rise
multiply by 1.5. For a 2F rise
multiply by 2.0.

Thank you