There are a number of top brands of commercial gas water heaters on the market today. When shopping for the best one for any need, important factors that should be considered are the capacity of water needed and the number of BTUs required to heat sufficient water. Additional factors include self-cleaning systems for energy efficiency, ease of installation, and capacity to fit into available space. Commercial Water Heater Sales offers top brands with convenient online water heater sales for comparing various brands and models.

1. Factors to Consider When Choosing from Commercial Gas Water Heaters
The most obvious difference between commercial gas water heaters and those for single family
residences is their size and capacity. There are also other considerations to look for that affect
the performance and durability of a gas water heater that don’t apply to electric water heaters.
There are also a number of differences among the various brands and individual features
available on the market. While some water heater sales companies carry only one or two
brands of water heaters, others offer a variety so that you have more options to meet your
specific needs. Before considering the size water heater that will be needed to heat the volume
of water required, the first thing to consider is the brand. Some people believe that an American
Standard water heater is the best choice while others think that A.O. Smith heaters
outperform American water heaters. Although it often comes down to personal choice, there are
a few brands that outrank the others in terms of selection and performance. These include:
•
American Water
•
American Standar
•
Polaris
•
A.O. Smith
•
Rheem
The following table lists some of the important features available in the different models.
Capacity
Special Features
34-70-85-95-100
Motorized flue damper,
multiple anode rod, fused
ceramic shield tank for anticorrosion protection
Applications
Brand
American water
heaters
Gallon models
Ideal for multiple unit
facilities that require
easy, low-cost
installation, energy
savings, extended
tank life

2. 34-70-85-95-100
American Standard
Gallon models
Water Heaters
34, 50
Polaris Water
Heaters
Gallon models
Motorized flue damper,
multiple anode rod, fused
ceramic shield tank for anticorrosion protection
Made with a stainless steel
tank, superb thermal
efficiency
Ideal for multiple unit
facilities that require
easy, low-cost
installation, energy
savings, extended
tank life
Deal for business
where high volumes
of hot water are used
such as in the food
service industry
Automatic flue damper,
Ideal for installation in
installation flexibility, educes
small spaces, reduces
6-60-85-93-98-100
sediment build-up for thermal
cost for heating water
A.O. Smith Water
efficiency and reduces
in multi-unit facilities
Gallon models
Heaters
operational costs, selfcleaning system for longer life
65-75-85-100
Rheem Water
Heaters
Gallon models
Short floor-to-vent heights for Any application
requiring large
tight spaces, System
volumes of hot water
Sentinel™ LED diagnostic
system, stainless steel
burners
Shopping online for commercial water heaters offers a number of advantages over shopping in
a physical store. In particular, information on each type is readily available and it is easier to
compare the most important features to determine which type of heater is the right one for the
job.

3. The amount of gas that is used each hour to operate the gas water heater is measured in BTUs.
The higher the BTUs, the larger the volume of water that can be quickly heated. While a facility
that has only minimal requirements for hot water to serve for personal and janitorial needs of
employees, large living complexes that require hot water for multiple functions will require much
larger volumes of water. This is also true of food preparation or handling facilities. In order to
determine the right capacity and BTUs, each sink, shower, and any other area that requires hot
water must be considered to determine what the hourly hot water use will be. For example, the
sink in your restroom might require no more than 5 gallons per hour while the janitorial sink
requires 15 gallons per hour. Once you have determined the hourly capacity that your facility
requires, you can calculate the needed BTUs.
Based on the fact that water has a weight of 8.34pounds/gallon and the 120° F standard
temperature setting, with an assumed water efficiency of 75%, BTUs for a requirement of 75
gallons of hot water per hour can be calculated as follows:
BTU Input = Water Volume (lb.) x Temperature rise (° F) x 1 BTU/lb.° F
= required gallons of water per hour x Temperature Rise ° F x 8.34 lb./gal
Thermal Efficiency
Or
75 GPH x 70° F x 8.34 lb.
= 58,380 BTU Input
.75
Choosing a water heater that will provide the needed water but does not heat well over the
amount used will be the most energy-efficient choice. Those with a self-cleaning system will
also add to lower energy use and lower costs.
Additional factors to take into consideration when shopping for a commercial gas water heater is
to consider the available space and the ease of installation offered by each.
For more information visit http://www.commercialwaterheaters.com