A tank-based water heater can take up quite a bit of space in your home. If you don’t have a lot of extra square footage to work with, this may be an issue. There are several space-saving solutions that you can use in your small home.
Invest in a Tankless Model
If your budget allows, consider upgrading to a tankless hot water system. This setup doesn’t require the use of a storage tank. A small heating unit is installed onto the wall of a utility closet or basement, freeing up floor space. What’s more, you reap the benefits of hot water on demand.
Housing Your Tank in Cabinetry
Most homes have empty space behind walls that can be used for the creation of a small utility closet or cabinet. You can store your water heater here, preventing it from being an eyesore. You’ll still have easy access if your heater needs maintenance or repairs.
Utilize Your Basement
Even in a finished basement, it’s wise to allocate a small area for your hot water heater. Most heaters are designed with flexibility in mind, allowing them to be located in different areas of a home.
Downsizing Your Water Heater
If you don’t have many people living in your residence, you may not need a very big water heater. On average, a household with just a couple of people living in it requires a hot water heater that is approximately 30 gallons in size.
Consider downgrading your tank if you have something much bigger. Not only can this save on space, but it also has the potential to save you money. A tank-based hot water heater will need to run to maintain the temperature of the water being held until it’s needed. If you’re not using a large amount of water per day, warming that water is inefficient.
There are mini hot water tanks that hold a minimal amount of water. They can quickly reheat the water when needed. They also have a very small footprint.
Consider Tank Orientation
There are water heater tanks that can be stored both horizontally and vertically. This may make a difference in how much space your tank uses, depending on its location. You may be able to hide a horizontal water tank behind a wall or suspended in a crawl space.
Find a space-saving solution for storing your water heater so you can enjoy hot water without losing square footage. Contact our team at Carlson Plumbing in Fountain Valley, CA for assistance with water heater storage.
