Water Heaters

Tankless: As their name implies, tankless, or on-demand water heaters, don't store water in a tank. Instead they heat water as it passes through the unit, using a heat exchanger to rapidly bring it up to temperature. (They run on electricity, natural gas, or propane.) Heating water only when you need it eliminates the standby energy losses you get with a storage tank.

Whole-house tankless units mount on a wall, saving you floor space and fitting into tight spaces. They vary in size, but average about 2 feet tall and a bit over a foot wide.

Hot Tank Water Heater

Storage tank: Storage tank water heaters typically have a capacity of 30 to 60 gallons, but the most common size is 50 gallons. The capacity you want depends on the size of your household and how much hot water you use (We can help with the calculations). Using natural gas, electricity, fuel oil, or propane, these tanks continuously heat water to keep a full store at the ready. 

Storage tanks can be 5 feet tall or taller and about 2 feet wide or wider. If your water heater is in the basement, you might not mind the space it takes. But if you don’t have a basement, you may have to stash it in a closet—and that can be a tight fit. And keep in mind that because of recent federal energy regulations, a replacement storage tank may take up more space than your old one, even if it’s the same capacity, because newer ones are required to have more insulation.

Tanks that hold less than 55 gallons may be an inch or two larger. But tanks of 55 gallons or more will require even more space, depending on the energy-saving technology they use.