How Long for Hot Water Heater to Refill

Nobody wants to take a miserable cold shower, especially in the winter. So the question “How long for a hot water heater to refill?” is usually asked when you run out of hot water or after draining the water heater. Here is what we discovered after doing some study.

The size of the tank and the efficiency of the heating elements significantly affect how long it takes for the water heater to refill. For instance, the filling time for an 80-gallon water tank is typically 30 to 40 minutes, compared to 20 to 30 minutes for a 40-gallon tank. This amount of time can vary based on several factors, including the initial temperature of the water and the capacity of the heating elements.

If you’re using electrical heaters, you might notice a difference in the refill and recovery times. Electrical heaters, for example, can take anywhere from 60 to 80 minutes to heat a full tank, depending on the wattage of the heating elements and the overall efficiency of the unit.

how long for hot water heater to refill

How Long for Hot Water to Refill with Certain Types of Water Heaters?

Water can heat up quickly or take anywhere between 60 and 80 minutes. Your water heater’s kind will determine everything. Given that the appliances are brand-new and the right size for the house, the following are some typical heat-up periods for various water heaters:

Read also: What is An Indirect Water Heater?

  • 60–80 minutes for an electric storage tank water heater.
  • Water heaters with propane tanks take 30-40 minutes to heat.
  • 0 minutes for propane tankless water heaters.

Keep in mind that these are the lengths of time needed to warm a fresh, filling water heater tank. When you have a storage tank water heater, the device continuously heats and refills water for use as needed.

However, if you use up all the hot water (for example, after a busy morning of taking many showers), you’ll have to wait until your appliance replenishes from a low level. During peak hours, you can run out of hot water unless you have a propane tankless water heater that warms water instantly.

How Long For Hot Water Heater To Heat After Reset

Let’s speak about the typical recovery period for a water heater and what constitutes a “rapid” recovery. This makes it simple to see whether yours is taking a lot longer than normal.

For instance, the typical recovery period for an 80-gallon tank with entering water at 62 degrees is as follows:

  • 60-70 minutes (for a gas tank water heater)
  • 120 minutes (for an electric tank water heater)

You’ll observe that gas water heaters heat water considerably more quickly. Gas water heaters employ burners, which heat water more quickly than electric water heater heating coils because they reach higher temperatures more quickly.

How Long Does It Take For A 50-Gallon Water Heater To Heat Up

Water entering a 50-gallon hot water heater at 60 degrees takes approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes to heat using 5,500-watt elements set at 120 degrees. In contrast, it takes 1 hour, and 47 minutes to heat the same tank of water when the water entering it is 40 degrees. It takes the tank 1 hour, and 6 minutes to fully heat up from the 70-degree water that enters it.

How long for hot water heater to refill then? Compared to an electric type, a gas water heater is more effective and warms water more quickly. They use strong burners at the tank’s bottom to burn natural gas as fuel and heat the water within.

The temperature that a gas water heater is set to and the temperature of the cold water that it must heat will determine how quickly it can heat up. These averages are provided:

  • 40-gallon gas water heater: 30-40 minutes
  • 50-gallon gas water heater: 40-50 minutes
  • 80-gallon gas water heater: 60-70 minutes

The typical gas water heater has a capacity of 40 gallons and heats water from 40 degrees to 120 degrees in 30 to 40 minutes. The heating process for a 50-gallon water heater will take 40 to 50 minutes.

Slow Heating of Water by Your Water Heater

Do you reside in a home and wonder how long for hot water heater to refill? It can be caused by one of the aforementioned problems or another one that calls for expert help. To make sure you have enough hot water to keep you comfortable, discuss your situation with a knowledgeable specialist, such as a plumber or a propane provider.

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Heater Technician is a skilled author and water heater expert with years of experience in the field. He has authored several articles and books on various aspects of water heater installation, maintenance, and repair.