Home systems data
Home maintenance statistics: water heaters, heating, cooling and leaks
A fact sheet for homeowners, writers, and local housing professionals who need trustworthy context about the systems homes depend on. Every figure below links to a named public source and identifies the year the underlying data describes.
Last updated September 29, 2026. Most national equipment figures use the latest available 2020 Residential Energy Consumption Survey data.
Water-heater statistics
123.53 million
Occupied U.S. homes were counted in the 2020 survey
That is the national base behind the water-heater figures in this section.
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, 2020 RECS, released March 202359.33m / 57.04m
Homes used natural gas / electricity for the main water heater
These were the two dominant main water-heater fuel types in the 2020 survey.
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, 2020 RECS, released March 202355.37 million
Homes had a 31 to 49 gallon main water heater
This was the largest reported water-heater size group nationally.
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, 2020 RECS, released March 20238.03 million
Homes had a tankless main water heater
Tankless equipment represented a distinct, smaller portion of the national stock.
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, 2020 RECS, released March 2023Heating and cooling statistics
52%
Of average annual home energy use went to heating and air conditioning
The figure is for U.S. households in 2020, showing why equipment condition and seasonal care matter.
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Energy Explained, updated December 202388%
Of U.S. households used air conditioning
The share includes different types of cooling equipment and is based on 2020 household data.
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, 2020 RECS release, July 202290%
Of Utah households used natural gas for at least one household energy use
This is not a water-heater-only figure. It reflects all reported household natural-gas uses in 2020.
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, 2020 RECS analysis, March 2023Water-leak statistic
Nearly 10,000 gallons
Water may be wasted each year by leaks in the average household
The Environmental Protection Agency uses this estimate to encourage households to find and fix common leaks. It is a useful reminder to take recurring drips, running toilets, and unexplained moisture seriously.
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, WaterSense Current, Spring 2024Methodology and sources
Preventive Home Solutions compiled this page from primary U.S. government sources. Equipment counts and shares are reported as the sources publish them, not converted into local estimates. The U.S. Energy Information Administration's 2020 Residential Energy Consumption Survey covers primary occupied homes in the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
- EIA, Table HC8.9: Water heating in U.S. homes, by home size, 2020, released March 2023
- EIA, Energy Explained: Use of energy in homes, updated December 2023
- EIA, natural-gas use in U.S. households, published March 2023
- EIA, 2020 state-level household characteristics release, July 2022
- EPA WaterSense Current, Spring 2024
Cite this page
Preventive Home Solutions. “Home Maintenance Statistics: Water Heaters, Heating, Cooling and Leaks.” Updated September 29, 2026. Preventive Home Solutions.
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