I have a 2600 sq' house with 3 baths and nine people living in the home. I have a 50 gal hot water heater and need to decide to add another heater or a recirculating pump to boost my output. The home is all electric. What is the best way to go?

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Originally Posted by DJCassidy

I have a 2600 sq' house with 3 baths and nine people living in the home. I have a 50 gal hot water heater and need to decide to add another heater or a recirculating pump to boost my output. The home is all electric. What is the best way to go?

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A recirculating system isn't going to increase your output, it simply reduces the wait time for hot water at the fixture.

Personally, If you have the room for one, I'd opt for a second 50 gallon tank.

Growler's correct. What do you wish to do? Installing a water heater will give you more volume and hot water but it's bulky and more expensive. A recirculating system will give you hot water just as fast but you won't have the volume. It's dealers choice. I've installed them both ways. Is it just one bathroom that you wish to supply? If so then they have a system out there that doesn't require a return line. This is called a Cold Water Return Type System. Check itout at; Hot Water Circulating Systems - Cold Return Exactly what is it you wish to accomplish? Let us know. Regards, Tom

I am trying to supply 2 bathrooms which will service 7 people on that side of the house


If you are replacing the 50 gal. tank do it with 2, 40 gal. tanks connected in series. Use the first one as a preheater set at 50 degrees (you may move this up as experience suggests). This will save on the puchase price and operation as a 40 gal. is considerably less than a 50 gal. because there are so many made. Just as a 4' fluorescent tube costs less than a 3'.


Even if your 50 is okay and you just need some more volume the 40 gal will give it to you and save you $75 + over the extra 50 gal. Hook them up in series with the 40 as the preheater.