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If you're searching for "water heater installation Maple Grove" or wondering "what size water heater do I need," you've found the right resource. We built this guide specifically to answer one of the most common questions homeowners in Maple Grove and the Northwest Metro ask: how do I choose the right water heater size for my home?
At First Class Plumbing, we install water heaters throughout Maple Grove, Plymouth, Minnetonka, and the Twin Cities area every week. The sizing question comes up on nearly every call. Here's what Maple Grove homeowners need to know.
The answer isn't based on guesswork. Minnesota building codes provide a specific calculation method for water heater sizing, and it's not what most Maple Grove homeowners expect.
Your water heater size should be based on your home's bedrooms and bathrooms—not on how many people currently live there. This matters for a critical reason: if you're a single person living in a five-bedroom, three-bathroom home in Maple Grove, we can't size your water heater for one person. We have to size it for the home's capacity.
Why? When you sell your home, the next family needs adequate hot water. The water heater installation must serve the property, not just the current occupants.
For most Maple Grove homes, the choice comes down to three sizes: 40-gallon, 50-gallon, or 75-gallon water heaters.
Here's the reality we share with Northwest Metro homeowners: a 50-gallon water heater typically costs only about $50 more than a 40-gallon model. Because of supply and demand in the Twin Cities area, 50-gallon units have become the standard. We install far more 50-gallon water heaters in Maple Grove than 40-gallon models.
That said, budget matters. If saving $100 is important to you right now, we'll absolutely discuss the 40-gallon option. No Maple Grove plumber should push you into spending more than you're comfortable with.
For larger homes in areas like Minnetonka or Plymouth with four or more bathrooms, a 75-gallon water heater often makes sense. These homes typically have multiple people taking showers in the morning, running dishwashers, and using washing machines—all of which demand hot water simultaneously.
Maple Grove homeowners call us when they notice these problems:
Your family used to take four 20-minute showers back-to-back without running out of hot water. Now you can only manage four 10-minute showers before the water turns cold. This change often means sediment has built up in your tank, reducing its effective capacity. Sometimes it means your water heater is simply failing.
Another sign: you've added family members or your water usage has increased, but your old water heater can't keep up. Maybe you renovated and added a bathroom, or your teenagers started taking longer showers. Your 40-gallon water heater that worked fine five years ago might not meet your family's current needs.
If you're replacing a water heater installed before 2015, you need to know about NAECA energy standards. The National Appliance Energy Conservation Act changed water heater requirements in 2004, 2015, and most recently in 2023.
These energy efficiency standards mean modern water heaters have more insulation. More insulation means the physical tank is larger—even if the water capacity stays the same. A 50-gallon water heater installed in 2025 takes up more floor space than a 50-gallon unit from 2010.
For Maple Grove homeowners with tight utility room spaces, this matters. We've helped numerous Twin Cities homeowners navigate situations where their old water heater fit perfectly, but the new energy-efficient replacement requires creative positioning or even a different configuration.
When we install water heaters in Maple Grove and throughout the Northwest Metro, we primarily recommend Bradford White. Here's why:
Bradford White offers the best combination of quality, affordability, and longevity we've found for Minnesota homes. They're not the absolute cheapest option—and we won't stand behind the cheapest option anyway—but they deliver outstanding value.
The service and warranty support matters too. Bradford White honors their six-year tank warranty even if you're a few months past the deadline. We've seen them stand behind products at six years and two months. Other manufacturers we've worked with in the Twin Cities haven't been as flexible.
A.O. Smith comes in as our second choice for Maple Grove water heater installations. Both brands perform well in Minnesota's climate, but we've had consistently better experiences with Bradford White's warranty service.
For homeowners interested in tankless water heaters, we recommend Rinnai or Navien. These brands offer comparable quality and longevity for tankless systems.
Every water heater installation we complete in Maple Grove comes with our one-year warranty on parts and labor. This covers everything we touch during installation.
On top of our warranty, your Bradford White water heater includes the manufacturer's six-year tank warranty. If we supply the unit—which we strongly recommend—we handle all warranty work directly. You won't have to chase down a manufacturer or deal with complicated warranty claims. We take care of it.
This matters when you're comparing plumbers in Maple Grove. Some companies install the water heater and walk away. We stand behind our work for a full year, and we make manufacturer warranty claims simple.
Maple Grove homeowners sometimes ask if they can buy their own water heater from a big-box store and have us install it. Yes, we'll do customer-supplied installations. But here's what we tell everyone: letting us supply the water heater typically works out better.
Big-box store water heaters are lesser quality. They're cheaper up front, but they don't last as long. The water heaters we install through our plumbing supplier are built to higher standards.
There's also the disposal issue. When we supply your water heater, our delivery service brings the new unit and takes away the old one. It's a seamless process. If you buy from a store, you're responsible for getting a 400-pound water heater home, getting the old one to a scrap yard, and coordinating everything yourself. Most Maple Grove homeowners decide the hassle isn't worth the modest savings.
One exception: if you're selling your home within two years, saving money with a big-box water heater might make sense. We ask about your plans specifically so we can give you the best recommendation for your situation. If you're staying in your Maple Grove home for the next 20 years, invest in quality. If you're moving soon, we'll help you make a cost-effective choice.
Manufacturers claim 10 to 12 years as the standard life expectancy for water heaters. In reality, we've seen them fail at six years and we've seen them run perfectly for 25 years.
Minnesota's hard water plays a role in water heater longevity. Sediment buildup accelerates wear on the tank. Homes in Maple Grove with water softeners often get more years out of their water heaters than homes without water treatment systems.
The age of your water heater matters when deciding between repair and replacement. If your unit is approaching 10 years old and needs a significant repair, replacement usually makes more financial sense than fixing it.
Choosing the right water heater size protects your investment and ensures your family has reliable hot water for years to come. At First Class Plumbing, we've installed hundreds of water heaters throughout Maple Grove, Plymouth, Minnetonka, Brooklyn Park, and the entire Northwest Metro.
We base our recommendations on Minnesota building codes, your home's specific needs, and your budget. We explain all your options—40-gallon, 50-gallon, or 75-gallon—and let you make the decision that works best for your family.
Call us at 763-220-3765 for water heater installation in Maple Grove and the Twin Cities area. We offer same-day service appointments, transparent pricing, and the one-year warranty that demonstrates our commitment to quality work.
Contact First Class Plumbing today to discuss your water heater needs with a licensed Minnesota plumber who serves Maple Grove with Enjoyable Excellence.
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