It may seem like a silly question to ask about the height of a water heater, but there are actually different recommended heights based on the type of home you have. For example, most new two-story homes have a gas water heater installed somewhere between 12 and 14 feet above the floor. Although installing a water heater higher than this might seem like it would make more sense due to gravity, its location will actually save you money in the long run by reducing the amount of natural gas that needs to be used. Additionally, certain types of water heater are only recommended for specific types of buildings, such as a detached home with a basement or a small apartment with a crawl space above it.

Basement vs. Ground-floor Installation

The two main types of water heater installation are the ground-floor installation (GFI) and the basement installation (BFI). The GFI is best suited for single-family homes and is recommended for most two-story homes as well. The BFI is recommended for large multi-family buildings with basements that are used as living space.The main difference between the two is that the GFI is less expensive and will typically use less gas since it is less likely to be used by residents of other floors. Additionally, the BFI is recommended for homes with crawl spaces since the water will be heated directly by the gas rather than the water being heated indirectly by the steam coming from the crawl space.

How to Choose the Right Size

Before you pick out a water heater, you need to determine how many people will be using the water and what their water usage will be. Although the water heater manufacturers provide charts that will tell you what size water heater to buy, you should keep in mind that these charts have been calculated for the city and not your specific home.To determine the size of water heater that you need, you first need to calculate your peak demand. This is the highest amount of hot water the home will use in a given day. You can calculate the peak demand by taking the number of occupants in the home, the length of time they spend showering, and the size of the family and then adding a few extra gallons for the water used for cooking and cleaning.After you determine the peak demand, you can determine what size of water heater to purchase. The ideal size of water heater is based on the square footage of your home, the age of your home, and the average water usage in the region. A rule of thumb is to have at least 20 gallons of hot water per person per day. This will ensure that you won’t have to run the water out of the hot water tank very often.

Tank Location: Basement vs. Ground-floor Installation

One of the first things you’ll need to determine when purchasing a water heater is its location. If you’re installing a water heater in your basement, you’ll want to select an electric water heater since it will be too expensive to run a gas line down to the water heater. If you’re installing a water heater in the crawl space, you’ll want to select a gas water heater since it will be less expensive to run a gas line up to the water heater.Since the majority of new homes are being built with a GFI, you should also select a GFI water heater. If you’re installing a water heater in your basement, you’ll likely be choosing a smaller GFI water heater since you’ll be heating the water by running it through a pipe or other device. If you’re installing a water heater in the crawl space, you should select a larger GFI water heater since the water will be heated by the steam.

Bottom line

When you’re installing a water heater, there are a few things you should keep in mind. First, you should install it at least 12 feet above the floor to cut down on the amount of water that drips down from the tank. Second, you need to purchase a water heater that is large enough to meet your peak demand and last for at least 10 years.Finally, you should purchase a GFI water heater that is located in the crawl space.