Water Heater 201: Introduction to Commercial Water Heaters
Last Updated: June 21, 2023
Welcome to Water Heater 201!
This is what we’re all about:
Welcome to our new educational article series on commercial water heaters! We started our original Water Heater 101 series focused on residential water heaters back in 2019, with the goal of giving homeowners tips and important information. Since then, our commercial clientele has grown extensively and we’ve noticed a need for more information about commercial water heaters to be readily available online. We're not ending Water Heater 101, but if you’re ready to learn more about commercial water heaters, keep reading!
What You’ll Learn in This Article:
- The difference between residential and commercial water heaters
- How to find your commercial water heater’s model and serial number
- SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) suggestions for your business's commercial water heater
Residential vs. Commercial Water Heater
Visual Comparison
What's the difference between residential and commercial water heaters?
A somewhat simple rule of thumb to differentiate between residential and commercial water heaters is the gallon capacity rating. Most residential water heaters tend to be between 10 and 75 gallons, while commercial water heaters tend to be 75 gallons or above. However, it is important to note that commercial water heaters can also produce "smaller" quantities of hot water such as 60 or 75 gallons. Although gallon capacity appears to be an easy way to determine the difference between residential and commercial water heater, also translating to the visual differences shown here, this is not main difference!
If gallon capacity isn't the only difference between residential and commercial water heaters, what is the difference?
Size | Commercial units are larger in terms of physical size
- Residential units weigh: 150+ lbs EMPTY
- Commercial units weigh: 500+ lbs EMPTY
Recovery Rates | Commercial water heaters are able to produce a larger volume of hot water at a faster rate, with faster recovery times (even if they are "smaller" commercial units). This is the actual difference between residential and commercial water heaters.
- Residential Unit 90°F Rise: 55.9 GPH (Gallons per hour)
- Commercial Unit at 90°F Rise: 256 GPH (Gallons per hour)
Now that we've established that the difference between residential and commercial water heaters is related to size and production abilities, let's learn how to find your commercial water heater's model and serial number.
How to Find Your Commercial Water Heater’s Model and Serial Number
Similar to a residential water heater, the model and serial number for a commercial water heater can be found on its
ratings plate, a label on the front of the tank (tank type models) or on the side of the tank for tankless models. You should be looking for a label that says "Automatic Storage Tank" or something similar; the model and serial number should be clearly labeled, but it may take a moment to find the correct label because commercial water heaters tend to have additional safety certifications and instructional diagrams. In addition to the model and serial numbers you will also find other important information about the water heater such as the: date of manufacture, nominal gallon capacity (manufacturer's rating of the unit's storage capacity for comparison purposes), rated storage capacity (unit's actual storage capacity), BTUs per hour, thermal efficiency, etc. Please note: this information and its organization may differ by manufacturer and model. For an example tutorial and up close view of a commercial water heater's ratings plate, play the video featured in this article.
Video: A.O. Smith BTH 199-300 Ratings Plate
BONUS FACT:
Although the Serial Number enables the manufacturer and/or service provider to pull up information for your exact model, the Serial Number decoding system remains the same. In other words, regardless of whether you have an A.O. Smith residential or
commercial water heater, both with be 13 digits and the first four digits will be the date code (assuming the unit was manufactured within the last 10 years). Manufacturers typically use the Model Number to distinguish commercial from residential.
SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) Suggestions for Commercial Water Heaters
With general business operations in mind, here are some tips for your organization's SOP:
1. Keep a folder or binder with a printed picture of all of your equipment's models and serial numbers in case you ever need service. It will be extremely difficult for your service provider to source parts and impossible to verify warranty coverage without this information. In the event that you do not have it available, a technician can still attempt to diagnose and repair your unit, but sourcing parts may cause repair delays. Don't forget to keep a digital back-up copy of the photos for easy sharing or if you are not on site regularly.
2. Designate at least two team members (depending on the size of your team) the ability to make repair decisions up to a pre-determined dollar amount; this way, if one team member is out or unavailable, someone else can partake in the decision making process. These team members should also know where to find your SOP binder with all your documentation.
3. Install a wall hanger near your water heater to store important documents, namely the installation manual and any service tickets. Searching for a commercial water heater's manual is one of the first things our technicians tend to do to confirm error code meanings, required wiring and breaker sizes, etc. Although most manuals and documents can easily be retrieved online, some commercial water heaters are
4. Have a preventative maintenance plan. Commercial water heater replacement can be extremely costly and is even worse when it's unexpected. Having a preventative maintenance plan can increase equipment efficiency and safety by ensuring your water heater is operating properly.
5. Have the contact information for your preferred repair company listed in your SOP binder. By having all of the information in one place, you can help ensure that your teammates follow your company rules and can easily request service with a company like U.S. Water Heating Solutions that specializes in local water heater repair.
6. Take pictures and/or of the issue(s) to expedite the repair/replacement process. In the event that your water heater stops functioning, your restaurant, salon, or other business' bottom line could be in jeopardy. If you or your team members notice a leak, error code, or another issue that could help a technician be better prepared for the job, the best way to communicate that information is via photo and video. Many clients often struggle with verbalizing their water heater issues, but if a tech can have a preview of the site before their arrival, they can begin to narrow down possible diagnoses, which may save you time and money on their site visit.
Similarly, if you are considering commercial water heater replacement and would like an estimate we will need some photos and measurements from the site. We typically prefer to send a technician to scope out the job, but customer photos are extremely useful for providing rough estimates.
Commercial SOP for Water Heaters
Does your restaurant, salon, spa, or other business SOP currently contain instructions to guide your team members in the event that you need commercial water heater repair?: Who is in charge of calling for service? How much money are team members allowed to spend on water heater repair? Where is the water heater located in your business?
Answering these logistical questions and having a plan of action will ensure your team members are prepared and stress free when facing a lack of hot water; more importantly, preparing these commercial water heater SOP pages can help save your business money because your team members can focus on their regular operations instead of panic mode.
How the Water Heater SOP Pages Work:
We've prepared this free guide -- just click the button below, subscribe to our e-mail list and you will receive a link to our fully customizable Canva template!
Introduction to Commercial Water Heaters: FAQs + Key Takeaways
U.S. Water Heating Solutions' Commercial Water Heater Repair + Replacement
In need of commercial water heater repair, replacement, or parts? Contact us with your service inquiries!
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