40 gallon hot water tank
About 182 litres, for 1 to 2 people according to CAA-Québec. The more compact of the two.
The 40 gallonGiant electric hot water tanks: 40 or 60 gallon?
One brand, two sizes: Giant electric hot water tanks, 40 and 60 gallon, from a manufacturer established in Montréal-Est, on the island of Montreal. This is how to pick the right one before we ring the doorbell.
- Arrival
- On site in about 4 hours
- Service
- Open 24/7
- Price
- From a photo, in under an hour
40 or 60? We count the showers.
Quick quote
40 or 60: we'll pick it with you
The number of people gives the size. The rest gives us the price, within the hour.
- A suggestion from the first question.
- Your current tank's size is on the rating plate.
- A photo replaces the visit.
Which hot water tank for 2, 3, 4 or 5 people?
Pick the number of people in your home. Our guideposts come from CAA-Québec (June 2026) and from a calculation by the CMMTQ, the Corporation des maîtres mécaniciens en tuyauterie du Québec, published in La Presse. The sources don't always agree, so we tell you who says what.
- 1 to 2 people · 40 gal CAA-Québec recommends a 40 gallon for 1 to 2 people. It's also the more compact of the two.
- 3 people · 60 gal CAA-Québec puts households of 3 to 4 people on a 60 gallon. Short showers and cold-water laundry? Tell us: your habits count as much as the number of toothbrushes.
- 4 people · 60 gal By the calculation published in La Presse, four 10-minute showers in a row on a winter morning call for about 48 to 50 gallons. A 60 is plenty.
- 5 people or more · 60 gal CAA-Québec talks about 80 to 100 gallons from 5 people up. We also install 80 and 100 gallon tanks on request: tell us your habits and we'll say plainly whether the 60 is enough or you need a bigger one.
40 or 60 gallon: which one?
The two sizes side by side, with CAA-Québec's guideposts. The litres are worked out from imperial gallons.
| 40 gallon | 60 gallon | |
|---|---|---|
| Recommended household (CAA-Québec) | 1 to 2 people | 3 to 4 people |
| Volume | about 182 litres | about 273 litres |
| In US gallons | about 48 | about 72 |
| Hot water available in one hour (CAA-Québec example) | about 49 (Giant's sheet) | about 74 (Giant's sheet) |
| Element wattage, model installed | 3,000 W | 4,500 W |
| Diameter and height, model installed | 22 × 49¼ in (56 × 125 cm) | 24 × 59⅞ in (61 × 152 cm) |
Source: CAA-Québec, updated June 29, 2026. One imperial gallon is 4.546 litres; one US gallon, 3.785 litres.
What tips the balance
The head count gives you a starting point; the morning rush gives you the real answer. When everyone showers one after the other, that's when a tank that's too small lets you down.
In 2015, in La Presse, Henri Bouchard, then technical director at the CMMTQ, ran the numbers for a family of four taking 10-minute showers back to back on a winter morning: about 48 gallons with a 4.5 kW element, or 50 gallons at 3.8 kW. With 5-minute showers, 26 gallons will do.
The same column names what pushes demand up: a deep bathtub, a multi-jet shower, hot-water laundry and teenagers who move into the shower.
Torn between the two? Guy Charest, then a housing advisor at CAA-Québec, said to go with the bigger one, because a small tank that's overworked wears out sooner. CAA-Québec gives the other side too: a tank that's too big uses energy for nothing. In practice, CAA-Québec counts 40 gallons for 1 or 2 people, 60 for 3 or 4, and 80 to 100 gallons from 5 people up: we install those large sizes on request.
Amperage and breaker
In a house, a 40 or 60 gallon hot water tank is normally wired at 240 volts. The current is simple to work out: watts divided by volts. The breaker and wire follow the wattage printed on the rating plate.
| Element wattage | Current at 240 V | Breaker recommended by Giant | Wire recommended by Giant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3,000 W | 12.5 A | 20 A | #12 |
| 3,800 W | about 15.8 A | 20 A | #12 |
| 4,500 W | about 18.8 A | 25 A | #10 |
240 V recommendations from Giant's residential electric manual (GI-IM017), subject to local codes. At 208 V, the sizes change. Most Giant 40 gallon tanks have 3,000 W elements (3,800 W on some), and the 60 gallon tanks 4,500 W.
Imperial gallons and litres
In Quebec, 40 and 60 gallon hot water tanks are measured in imperial gallons. One imperial gallon is about 4.55 litres, so a 40 gallon holds about 182 litres and a 60 gallon about 273 litres.
The rating plate and the spec sheet can show three numbers for the same tank, because manufacturers also list US gallons, which are smaller. On Giant's Standard spec sheet, the size we'd call a 40 gallon here is listed at 49 US gallons, 184 litres and 41 imperial gallons. Same tank, three units.
Manufacturer's warranty
Giant's warranties differ from one product line to the next. On its sheets, the tank is covered for 6 years on the Standard line, 8 years on the Cascade and 10 years on the Super Cascade, and parts for 1 to 5 years depending on the line.
The warranty starts on the installation date if the warranty card reaches Giant within 45 days. It covers the original owner, not labour, and among other conditions it asks for the anode to be checked at least every two years. We install every Giant electric line: tell us the one you want, or we'll recommend one with your price.
Our two sizes
60 gallon hot water tank
About 273 litres, for 3 to 4 people according to CAA-Québec. For mornings when the bathroom never empties.
The 60 gallonGiant hot water tanks: frequently asked questions
What is the best hot water tank brand in Quebec?
We don't keep a ranking. We install one brand: Giant, a manufacturer established in Montréal-Est. One brand means the same fittings, the same parts and the same manual on every job.
How many amps does a 60 gallon hot water tank need?
Divide the element wattage by 240 volts. A 4,500 W element draws about 18.8 amps, and Giant's manual then recommends a 25 A breaker with #10 wire. The exact wattage is printed on the rating plate.
How do I know which size I have now?
The capacity is printed on the rating plate, the metal label on the side of the tank, often in US gallons and litres. Send us a photo of it: we'll read it for you and get back to you with your price in under an hour.
Sources
- Chauffe-eau : quelle capacité choisir pour votre maison? (in French, updated June 29, 2026), CAA-Québec, consulted September 27, 2026
- Quelle capacité de chauffe-eau choisir? (in French, Carole Thibaudeau, February 23, 2015), La Presse, consulted September 27, 2026
- Residential Electric Water Heater, installation instructions and owner's manual (GI-IM017En), Giant, consulted September 27, 2026
- Residential Electric Water Heaters: Standard, Cascade, Super Cascade, specification sheet (GI-PB019En), Giant, consulted September 27, 2026
- About Us, Giant, consulted September 27, 2026
Not sure which size? Send a photo of the plate
We read the plate, tell you which size to install and get back to you with your price in under an hour, 24/7.