How Many Watts Does A Water Heater Use?

An electric water heater is one of the highest energy-consuming appliances at home. There is no doubt that an electric water heater is more ecological than a butane or gas heater, but how many watts does it consume? The water heater wattage directly depends on its capacity in liters and generally lies between 1500W and 5500W.

Jackery Explorer 3000 Pro has a lithium-ion battery of 3024Wh capacity, and Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus, with a LiFePO4 battery capacity of 2042.8Wh, can charge different sizes of water heaters. The battery capacity of Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus can be expanded from 2kWh to 24kWh using Jackery Battery Pack 2000 Plus.

Products	Image	Capacity	Rated/Peak Power	Battery	Size
Explorer 3000 Pro		3024Wh	3000W (6000W Peak)	Lithium-Ion	Length: 18.6 inches Width: 14.1 inches Height: 14.7 inches
Explorer 2000 Plus		2-24kWh	3000W (6000W Peak)	LiFePO4	Length: 14.7 in (37.36 cm) Width: 18.6 in (47.3 cm) Height: 14.1 in (35.94 cm)

Key Takeaways About Water Heater Wattage

Before we dig deep into how the electric water heater wattage will be calculated, here are a few key takeaways.

• An average electric water heater consumes around 4000 watts of electricity.
• Electric water heaters typically run for 3 hours a day. However, there are many newer and more efficient models that do the same task in half the time.
• The average energy rate per kWh in the US is 10 cents.

How Many Watts Does A Water Heater Use?

The hot water heater wattage will depend on the size and type of the unit. If the appliance is larger, it will consume more power, and vice versa. Let's take a closer look at different types of water heaters:

Electric Water Heaters: Typically, the electric water heaters' wattage will depend on the gallons. It consumes around 1500-6000 watts. Generally, smaller heaters with low gallon capacity have lower wattage and vice versa.

Gas Water Heaters: Unlike electric heaters, gas water heaters do not rely on electricity for heating. Instead, most models use a gas burner and some amount of electricity for the operation of controls and pilot lights.

Tankless Water Heaters: Sometimes called on-demand water heaters, they are becoming quite popular due to their energy-efficient design. Most electric tankless water heaters typically consume 5000-7000 watts.

Heat Pump Water Heaters: This type of water heater works by transferring the heat from the surrounding air to water. The average wattage consumed by this type of water heater is around 500 to 1500 watts.

Solar Water Heaters: Lastly, solar water heaters are the most environmentally friendly options that utilize the sun's energy to heat water. Some electrical components that control the system and circulate water use 300 to 600 watts.

The following table reveals the gallons and the wattage of an electric water heater.

The natural gas prices tend to be lower than electric prices. Therefore, the gas water heater typically costs less to operate compared to electrical models. The electric water heater wattage will depend on various factors, including tank size, insulation, temperature setting, incoming water temperature, usage patterns, and efficiency rating.

Let's explain how the factors affect water heater wattage.

• Tank Size: If the water heater tank is larger, it'll require more wattage to heat a large amount of water.
• Insulation: The insulation of a water heater directly impacts energy efficiency. Well-insulated tanks can retain heat better, reduce the heating cycle frequency, and eventually lower the overall wattage.
• Incoming Water Temperature: If the water entering the heater is cold, the amount of energy required is higher.
• Usage Pattern: The more you use the water heater, the higher the required wattage will be.
• Efficiency Rating:The advanced models are highly efficient and require less wattage.

Water Heater Power Consumption

In general, the electricity consumption of the water heater varies between 400 to 3000 kWh per year. The following table reveals the electricity consumption and the capacity of electric water heaters.

Source: https://www.endesa.com/en/blogs/endesa-s-blog/tip/how-much-energy-electric-water-heater-consumes

If you want to determine how many watts your water heater consumes, here is the simple 5-step guide.

Step 1: Estimate How Many Hours You Use The Water Heater

The first step is to estimate the amount of time the electric water heater runs each day. If you are unsure how much time the water heater runs per day, you can calculate how much hot water you'll need for a shower, dishwasher, laundry machine, sink usage, and more.

Step 2: Find Wattage and Volts

The wattage and volts of an electric water heater are clearly mentioned on the label itself or in the user manual. Most residential dual-element water heaters run on nearly 240 volts.

Step 3: Determine Wattage Usage

Now, use the kWh formula to determine the wattage of electric water heaters.

Daily Electricity Usage (kWh) = Heater Watts × Operating Hours Per Day

Step 4: Calculate the Electricity Cost

Once you know the electrical consumption of the water heater, the next step is to check the electricity rate in your area. Remember, the most electricity rates are typically represented in kilowatts. Therefore, you'll need to multiply it by 1000.

Daily Electricity Cost = (Daily kWh ÷ UEF Rating) × Fuel Cost

Step 5: Reduce Electric Water Heating Expenses

That's it! Now that you know the electricity usage of the electric heater and the cost of operation, you can then take steps to reduce water heating costs.

How Much Does It Cost to Run A Water Heater?

The electric water heater costs between $0.21 to $0.86 per liter. If an average person uses 30 liters of hot water daily, it will cost you around $3.76 to $8.59 per month. Here's a table representing the water heater electricity consumption (kWh), cost per liter of water, and monthly costs in the US.

Source: https://www.endesa.com/en/blogs/endesa-s-blog/tip/how-much-energy-electric-water-heater-consumes

The Best Power Station for A Water Heater

Jackery is the global leader in manufacturing a wide range of solar generators, power stations, and solar panels. Jackery Explorer Portable Power Stations have a built-in lithium-ion or LiFePO4 battery and pure sine wave inverter.

The innovative solar cells in the Jackery SolarSaga Solar Panels collect solar power and convert it into electricity. Then, the electricity is transferred to Jackery Explorer Portable Power Stations, where the pure sine wave inverter converts the obtained electricity to usable energy.

You can then connect the small or large appliances to the power station and start charging them. Generally speaking, Jackery Solar Generators support charging of most small and large home or outdoor devices for long hours. Below are two popular Jackery Solar Generators for electric water heaters.

Jackery Explorer 3000 Pro

The Jackery Explorer 3000 Pro supports charging 99% of home appliances for a relatively long time. It also comes with Smart App Control, which makes it great for home emergencies and even outdoor trips. The power station has a fully upgraded BMS that features 12 forms of protection and 30% improved heat dissipation efficiency.

Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus 

The Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus can be expanded from 2kWh to 24kWh using the additional battery packs. A single Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus supports up to 5*Jackery Battery Pack 2000 Plus at a time, which expands the capability and capacity of the power station to 12kWh. You can extend the battery by connecting two Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus in parallel.

Water Heater Wattage FAQs

What size of solar generator do I need to run a water heater?

The size of the solar generator you'll need to run a water heater will depend on the size of the electric water heater and the electricity used. Let's take an example to understand: 

Suppose you are using Jackery Explorer 3000 Pro with a battery capacity of 3024Wh to charge a 2500-watt electric water heater. The working of Jackery Explorer 3000 Pro can be calculated as follows:

Working Time = Battery Capacity × 0.85 / Operating wattage of the water heater = 3024Wh × 0.85 / 2500W = 1H.

How to save water heater electricity costs?

There are many ways to reduce electricity costs or water heaters and save money on high bills. Here are some ways to lower the expenses:

• Lower the temperature setting on the electric water heater to significantly lower the energy consumption.
• Next, consider insulating the hot water pipes and water heater tank to lower the heat loss.
• If there are any leaks in pipes, repair them promptly to maintain energy efficiency.
• Instead of charging the electric water heater with electricity, use Jackery Solar Generators that combine Jackery Explorer Portable Power Stations and Jackery SolarSaga Solar Panels.

Can I plug my hot water heater into my generator?

Yes, you can plug hot water heaters into solar generators and charge them. Jackery Solar Generators are safe and reliable power solutions that can help you power not only water heaters but also other home appliances like refrigerators, ACs, coolers, and even microwaves. Take Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus, for example. With an expandable LiFePO4 battery capacity of 2042.8Wh, you can charge 99% of your home appliances for long hours.

Final Thoughts

Most residential electric water heaters' wattage is around 2000-4000 watts. Of course, the exact watt consumption will depend on your needs, habits, technology available, maintenance, cost of electricity, and the water heater efficiency.

While you can charge these water heaters with electricity, there's a cost-effective alternative to it. Jackery Solar Generators are designed to help you power various home appliances for long hours, eliminating high electricity bills.