Picture this: it’s the end of the day, you’re tired, and all you want is ten minutes in a scalding hot shower. You turn the valve on your shower to hot and wait for it to heat up. But the heat never materializes, and you kick yourself for forcing all your kids to take a hot bath before school tomorrow. Lucky for you, there’s a solution to this – maybe it’s time you looked into installing a quick recovery water heater in your home.
A quick recovery water heater can help recover hot water 50% faster than a standard 50- gallon water heater. They allow homeowners to improve their hot water turn-around without increasing the size of their water heater. They are attractive options for large families or homes with big jacuzzis.
Quick-recovery water heaters are also called high-recovery water heaters or water heater boosters.
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Which water heater has the quickest recovery time?
There are a variety of water heaters on the market today, and the recovery time varies. Conventional tank water heaters are standard and are found in most homes, although tankless water heaters are a relatively new option for homeowners.
Tankless water heaters do not warm up water until needed. Gas-powered tankless water heaters do this in a matter of seconds. Electric tankless water heaters may take a bit longer, up to a minute.
Once the hot water starts to flow from a tankless water heater, the water will stay hot until shut off. This is true for both gas and electric-powered models. Quick recovery water heaters are not used with tankless water heaters.
Conventional water heaters have longer recovery times than tankless models. Gas models heat water faster and take around 30 minutes of recovery time. Electric models are slower and can take 60 to 80 minutes to heat a new tank of water.
Quick recovery water heaters are a terrific option for homeowners looking to speed up the recovery time of their conventional water heater.
While instant hot water from tankless heaters is fantastic, these models cost three times more than conventional water heaters. They are also more expensive to have installed.
If you’re in the market for a new gas water heater, we think this model from A.O. Smith is the best.
- Permaglas glass coating protects steel tank from corrosion and maximizes...
- Dynaclean diffuser dip tube helps reduce lime and sediment buildup while...
- CoreGard anode rode aluminum anode with stainless steel core protects tank...
- Durable, tamper-resistant brass drain valve
- Meets all current regulations set forth by the National Appliance Energy...
It boasts a six-year warranty, high corrosion resistance, and solid metal construction.
Measure your space to ensure your new model will fit. Unless you are very handy, it’s probably best to hire a licensed plumber to do the dirty work. You’ll be disconnecting gas lines, water lines, and dealing with the venting of the water tank. If that doesn’t sound like something you’re capable of, hire someone who is.
If you’re looking for an electric water heater, we really like this one from Bosch.
- APPLICATION: Dimensions : 20.25" W x 59.75" H x 20.25" L. Perfect size for...
- DURABILITY: Two magnesium anode rods for extra tank protection. Dielectric...
- WARRANTY: 10-year tank and parts limited warranty
- EFFICIENCY: HFO foam insulated, reducing fuel costs and increasing energy...
- CONVENIENCE: Factory-installed electric hot and cold water connections for...
It offers a ten- year warranty, foam insulation, and superior energy efficiency. Again, measure first to make sure it’s going to fit. And call a plumber if you aren’t capable of installing a new water heater. With an electric water heater, there are gas lines or venting involved.
What is the recovery time for a 50-gallon electric water heater?
Standard water heaters work by heating one tank of water at a time. So if someone in your home takes a bath and you run a load of laundry, your water heater will likely use all the hot water in its tank. You’ve drained your water heater of hot water, and the plumbing fixtures in your home will not have hot water until the tank heats again.
The typical 50-gallon electric water heater takes around 60 to 80 minutes to heat a new batch of water. If your water heater is gas, the usual turn-around time is closer to 30 minutes.
A quick recovery water heater can help speed up this process. Quick water heaters heat water in small batches, which means more hot water will be available in your home continuously.
Are you ready for a crash course in science? Hot water rises. It is less dense than cooler water, so it will always float to the top. Hot water rises to the top of a hot water tank, too.
That’s why the discharge line from your home’s water heater is at the top – that’s where the hottest water in the tank is and what is sent to your plumbing fixtures first. Since water heaters hold a lot of water, once the hot water starts to leave the tank, it takes time for the new, cold water to get hot.
You can avoid the dreaded cold shower by adding a quick water heater, which adds another heating element to the top of your water heater.
High-recovery water heater vs. regular
High-recovery water heaters are superior options for homes with large families or lots of occupants. They are also excellent if you have a large bathtub that sees frequent use.
They can heat water faster than regular water heaters, warming 55 gallons of water in an hour on average. It takes traditional water heaters an hour to heat 40 gallons of water.
That means you’ll have 15 more gallons of hot water per hour of use, on average. You can get more done. You can do more laundry, wash the dishes when you want, and make sure that shower is nice and hot when you’re ready for it.
Best Quick Recovery Water Heater
There are so many options available to homeowners today that navigating the market for quick recovery water heaters can be daunting. Fear not! We’ve done the research for you.
We think the Bosch model is the best quick-recovery water heater on the market.
- APPLICATION: Dimensions : 20.25" W x 59.75" H x 20.25" L. Perfect size for...
- DURABILITY: Two magnesium anode rods for extra tank protection. Dielectric...
- WARRANTY: 10-year tank and parts limited warranty
- EFFICIENCY: HFO foam insulated, reducing fuel costs and increasing energy...
- CONVENIENCE: Factory-installed electric hot and cold water connections for...
However, not all quick recovery water heaters are compatible with all conventional water heaters. Check the specs of your water heater in your owner’s manual or on the internet to see what will work with it.
Keep in mind that if you have a tankless water heater, quick recovery water heaters are incompatible with them. If your tankless heater is not sufficiently heating your water, there is an issue with the heater, as it should supply limitless hot water.
Quick recovery water heaters are also probably unnecessary if your home is equipped with a newer, high-efficiency water heater. These heaters have a built-in heat pump, robust insulation, and a higher hot water recovery time than standard water heaters.
Nick Lopresti is the founder of YourH2Home and a home improvement expert. He has years of experience writing about various home improvement topics, mostly as it pertains to water systems.
