Gas or electric? Tell us about the space limitations (photo would help).

I'm at work, so unfortunately no photo, but it's in a small closet, maybe 30" by 24" deep - full height (8'). The old 40 gal took up all usable storage space being 48+", the new one I was looking at is only 31" high.

And electric.

Never go less than what you had. Stick with the standard 40 gallon. You are not going to store anything else in a water heater closet but the water heater.

Ok, So did the old one typically run out of hot water? Let that be your guide.

A 40 gal gas or 50 gal electric is pretty standard. I'm assuming you can use (and really need) the space above it. There are "short" versions of tanks of various sizes - so a 30, 40, 50 gal short. Of course such a tank is going to be wider than the tall version - so you need to measure that.

Also know that Marathon makes a fiberglass tank (won't rust and open up) but the cost is ~$1300

These are the dimensions for the Rheem 47 gal short at Big Box - for example.

Let us know how it worked out.

• Rheem's 40 gallon model is 48" H x 20.25" D ($364)
• Rheem's 38 gallon model is 31.5" H x 23" D ($409)

Assuming it would fit, you could gain 16" of vertical space at a cost of two gallons and a few bucks. I don't know whether you could make use of this or whether the water heater closet could/should be used for stuff other than the water heater.

Whatever you do, be sure the heater's electrical circuit can handle the new heater's load.

thanks for your help everyone! unfortunately the big box near us, only stocked a 40gal Rheem (same specs/size of what we replaced - just decades newer). so no extra storage space for me.