Is a Short or Tall Water Heater Better?
This quick and easy guide will help to answer the question, “is a short or tall water heater better?” We’ll explain the advantages and disadvantages of each and suggest various installation positions for short and tall water heaters.
Water Heater Fuel Type
If you are simply replacing an old short or tall water heater and just looking for an up to date version using the same fuel source supply then that does help save on costs, especially if the new tank size and location is the same.
Time for A Change
But when you decide it’s time for a change and you want a different size water heater then our handy guide will help you decide whether a short or a tall water heater is best for your needs.
Water Heater size – Will It Fit?
When deciding on a new water heater and it’s preferred location sometimes it’s not that easy to decide where to position it. Let’s take a look at the short and tall size options available and the best place to install that water heater.
Short Water Heater
Low boys or short water heaters are, as the name suggest’s, shorter in size than a normal water heater but they are usually wider than a normal water heater.
This design means that a short water heater can store between 10 and 50 gallons of water depending on which size you go for.
Short water heaters are available in heights ranging from around 30 to 49 inches tall, and between 20 to 26 inches in diameter. The connection pipe height for a short water heater is usually between 29 and 32 inches.
Short water heaters are the perfect choice for a whole-home water heater system where limited space is an issue, areas such as crawlspaces, basements, attics, inside closets, or under cabinets are favorite locations for these Low boys.
Tall Water Heater
Tall boy or tall water heaters are available in heights ranging from around 46 inches right up to 60 inches tall.
Tall water heater cylinder diameters range from 18 to 21 inches which means that a water storage capacity of between 30 and 100 gallons is possible.
As you can imagine these tall water heaters require plenty of space and are ideally suited for areas such as garages or large basement areas. The connection pipe height must also be taken into consideration, for a tall water heater it can be as much as 40 inches.
Which Is Best for You?
It really does come down to which is best for you and your own specific circumstances. That is really the only way to answer the question of “is a short or tall water heater better” because you may not have room to fit a tall water heater in, so in that case, a small water heater is better.
On the other hand, if you have plenty of space and need plenty of hot water then definitely go for a tall water heater.
Advantages And Disadvantages
Tall Water Heater
Tall Water heaters can hold and store around 50 gallons more water than the biggest short water heater.
Tall water heaters need a lot of room and that’s not something that everyone has spare.
Small Water Heater
Small water heaters are perfect for limited space areas.
Small water heaters generally hold up to 50 gallons max which might not be enough for some households.