How long do it take for a 55 gallon water heater tank to heat up?

Question

Our old water heater was leaking so we got another 1. we got it last saturday and it still didnt heat up yet and today is friday so we have to get another 1 so about how long will it take for this 1 to heat up. i dnt think it will be as big as the 55 gallon but close to it.... im tired of boling water to take a bath or jus taking cold showers ... im already sick =[ n dnt need ta make it worse

please help!!!

please and thank you =]

Answer 1

I'd say an hour

Answer 2

Each water heater has specs, in the manual, which is usually available online, if you don't already have a paper copy.  Look for the recovery rate.  It will be in gallons per hour.  If your cold water is 55 degrees F, and your water heater is set for 145 degrees F, the recovery rate will tell you how long it takes, because it's based on a 90 degree increase in temperature from cold water to hot.  For example, a typical electric water heater has a recovery rate of around 20 gallons per hour.  So 55 gallons would be about 2 1/2 to 3 hours.  Or if it's natural gas, the recovery rate is more likely to be about 35 or 40 gallons per hour, so it would be about 1 1/2 hours.

The problem might turn out to be something simple.  Does it heat at all?  Or does it just stay cold?  If it just stays cold, it's probably simple and easy to fix.  If it's electric, it might be the circuit breaker, or a wire might be broken, or something like that.  If it's gas, are you sure the pilot is lit?  And the gas is turned to the on position, not the pilot position?  And the thermostat is turned up?

Answer 3

With an electric that size, it takes at least 12 hours to get a full tank of water starting from a totally cold tank. But in a few hours you should normally have about half a tank.

It takes a little less time if it is a gas water heater.

With gas ones, often an installer worrying about liability from scalding will not turn the temp up when they install a tank. Usually electric ones are already set. But with gas ones they often leave it off and leave it to the homeowner to turn it up.

I think it is a bad practice and they should instruct the customer but I know many just do it.

Normally it should be set a "A". That should be about 120 degrees. But they don't even put numbers on them anymore just letters because the thermostats are not that exact. So my recommendation is always to turn it up a little at a time.    

So if it is gas you should verify that the temperature k**b on the outside is turned to a proper setting. Usually the manual is attached to the side of the tank. Read it for instructions.

It could be the pilot light is already out.

If it is electric I would guess something is more wrong than just a temp setting.

Good Luck.  

Answer 4

Shouldn't take that long, something is wrong.

If electric check the power to it.

Don't replace something if you don't know the cause of the problem, have it checked by someone qualified.

Answer 5

It should only take 20 min for an Nat. gas and maybe an hour for an electric.

Answer 6

Sounds like a power supply problem, and you are changing the whole heater out are you nutz . It should take 1-2 hours max.