Free tool for Aurora homes
Water heater size calculator
Estimate the tank size or tankless flow rate your household needs, based on your busiest hour of hot water use and our cold winter inlet water.
Your estimate
Peak hour hot water use
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Tank size to look at
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Tankless flow needed
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Assumes winter inlet water around 45 degrees and 120 degree hot water. Gas units at our altitude lose some output, so check the high-altitude rating before you buy.
Talk sizing: (720) 894-1012How the estimate works
The calculator adds up the hot water your household uses in its busiest hour: about 10 gallons per shower, 20 per tub bath, 6 per dishwasher run, 7 per hot laundry load and 4 per sink use. A tank water heater should have a first-hour rating at or above that number. The first-hour rating is printed on the yellow EnergyGuide label and in the spec sheet.
Why Aurora winters change the tankless number
A tankless heater has to raise water from the temperature it enters the house to the temperature you want. Our incoming water gets cold in winter, so the unit has to work harder in January than in July. That is why we size tankless units for winter flow, not summer flow.
Altitude matters for gas units
Aurora sits around 5,400 feet. Gas burners get less oxygen up here, and manufacturers publish high-altitude ratings or settings for that reason. A unit sized right at sea level can come up short here if altitude is ignored.
When to call instead of guessing
If your estimate lands between sizes, if you are adding a bathroom, or if you want to switch from tank to tankless, call us. We can look at your gas line, venting and space and tell you what will actually fit.
Ready to replace a heater? See water heater installation or tankless water heater installation.