How Long Does It Take for a 50 Gallon Water Heater to Heat Up

A water heater with 50 gallons tank is considered significant, and it can be pretty time-consuming to wait for the tank to be filled up in such a massive unit. So, how long does it take for a 50-gallon water heater to heat up, exactly? The answer may depend on several factors, but you can find the general answer below.

Read also: What Size Hot Water Heater for Family of 4 Will Need?

How Long Do You Need to Wait for a 50 Gallon Water Heater to Heat Up?

The heating element types used by a water heater unit will determine how long you’ll need to wait for the water to get to the right temperature. If your team has two heating elements, then both elements will play a role.

The water heaters have two efficiency ratings to give you an idea about the length of time it requires to warm up the water: the first hour and recovery ratings. However, some models have energy efficiency and energy ratings to make the matter even more complicated.

So, to give you an idea in general here’s the available time length a water unit takes to heat the water:

  • Electric Water Heater

The majority of 50 gallons electric water heater unit, set on 120 degrees Fahrenheit, with 5,500W elements, will need about 1 hour 20 minutes to make the water placed into the adjusted temperature.

  • Gas Water Heater

In general, a gas water heater only needs half the time of its electric counterpart. So, most 50 gallons of the gas-powered unit, set at 120 degrees Fahrenheit, will need about 40 to 50 minutes to make the water set into the adjusted temperature.

For a typical water heater issue such as water heater not heating, you may perform simple troubleshooting like checking the circuit breaker or the fuse box. In addition, if you have an electric-type unit, you need to check the switch placed around the thermostat. However, if you have a gas-fired unit, the problem might be caused by something plain such as the equipment running out of gas.

To know precisely how long it takes for a 50-gallon water heater to heat up, you need to consider many factors that present differently on different models. Learning about the estimation time helps a lot, especially if you live in an area that tends to have extreme conditions of weather so that you can be prepared for unexpected situations.

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John Burns is an experienced author and expert home improvement advice. With years of practical experience in the field authored several informative articles on various aspects related to home improvement, including installation, maintenance, and repair.