You know you need a water heater but you have no idea what size you might need if indeed you need one with storage.
Well, manufacturers today have made it easy to calculate the capacity you will need.
Firstly, how many people are there in your household? If there are just two of you then the chances of you both needing a shower at the same time are pretty slim.
However, if there are 5 of you then the probability of two people needing to use the shower at the same time increases.
A 50 gallon water heater will allow two people to take a shower of about 8 minutes in length.
The next thing to decide is what type to go for.
Your choices are either electric, gas or solar powered.
Obviously, if your primary concern is the environment then a solar powered model will be your first choice and will eventually save you both money and energy.
However, if you already have a gas supply then extending it to your water heater is both efficient and cost effective.
It will also work out cheaper than an electric one.
There are many makes and models to choose from and most manufacturers such as Rheem, Bradford and Kenmore offer 50 gallon water heaters.
Check the warranty and ease of maintenance before you buy and do a review search on the Net before committing yourself.
Most models these days are reliable and durable but if something does go wrong, most have parts that are readily available.