How Long Does it Take for a Water Heater to Heat Up

Are you wondering how long does it take for a water heater to heat up? And why your water heater is taking too much time to heat up your water? Then you come to the right as I will answer them all.

Here I will explain how much time a gas or electric heater takes to heat up the water in normal weather conditions and how to make it faster using some new ideas.

How Long Does it Take for a Water Heater to Heat Up in Minutes

On average, gas water heaters can heat up your water faster than electric heaters. But it can depend on the volume of your tank and the weather factor.

You can expect up to 60 minutes for your water heater to heat up your 40-gallon tank completely.

But for an average person, a few minutes is enough if you are just a litter of hot water.

How Long Does an Electric Water Heater Take to Heat Up Exactly

Electric heater use immersed electrical heating elements inside the tank to heat the water by transferring the heat. Here is an average time that most electric heater takes on default settings.

A 40-gallon water tank may take up to 60 minutes to heat up.
A 50-gallon water tank may take up to 120 minutes to heat up.
An 80-gallon water tank may take up to 150 minutes to heat up.

Yes, an electric heater does take longer time to heat up water than gas, but you can influence the time using the heating wattage and the thermostat.

For example, if you have a 40-gallon tank and a 2000-watt electric water heater and set it to 50 degrees Celsius or 120 degrees Fahrenheit, it may take one hour to heat the water. The higher the rating of the heater, the less time it takes.

How Long Does a Gas Water Heater Take to Heat Up Exactly

A gas water heater is more powerful and efficient than the electric one. The gas heater burns natural gas as fuel and heats water in the tank. But how fast the water heats up depends on the temperature you set. Here is a list of the average time it takes to heat up water.

A 40-gallon gas water heater tank may take up to 30 minutes to heat up.
A 50-gallon gas water heater tank may take up to 40 minutes to heat up.
An 80-gallon gas water heater tank may take up to 60 minutes to heat up.

Again the time will deep on various factors like weather conditions, no of gallons, and the power of your gas heater. So there is your answer on how long does it take for a water heater to heat up.

How to Make the Water Heater Heat Up Faster

If you face anything like your water heater taking too long to heat up, follow these steps, and it will work faster.

First, check the thermostat and set it to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Otherwise, the water will take too long to heat up.

For an electric heater, it is all you can do. But for a gas water heater, you can also check the pilot light and see if it’s out.
If it is, then relight it following the owner’s manual and wait for a few minutes, and it will work faster.
If still, that is not working it may happen because of sediment build-up inside the tank.

To solve this issue, turn off the heater, flush out all the water using a hose, and then turn it on.
You can also insulate the water pipes to keep the heat from escaping when it flows to your faucet.
You can also install a recirculating pump to circulate hot water through your pipes. So that it always remains at your tap.

Just follow these steps, and your water heater will run faster and more efficiently.

Last Words

So now you tell me how long does it take for a water heater to heat up? The perfect answer is 30 to 60 minutes on average. But you can reduce that time by using some above tips.

Yes, gas water heaters are faster than electric ones. But they are not easy to manage. I hope you have got your answer. Thanks for making it to the end. See you soon.

Water Heater Heat Up Time FAQs

Why my water heater takes too long to heat?

Because the thermostat is not set at the right temperature, there is sediment build-up in the heater, or the water pipe is leaking. Fix them, and you will have hot water again.