When trying to decide between a gas or electric water heater there are a few things to consider. Ensuring you make the right choice is essential because a house without hot water is a real headache. It is unpleasant. It’s annoying. Additionally, it can be quite risky to wash a sick child or take a shower in water that is too cold. As a result, there is a need for water heating solutions, ones that can heat water to a temperature that is secure and cosy.
How can you make the best option for your home when there’s gas, electric, and solar to choose from? Well, you have to consider the benefits and drawbacks of each type of water heater. In this post we’re just going to focus on gas vs electric water heaters and weigh up the pro’s and con’s.
The pros and cons of gas and electric water heaters will be thoroughly compared in this article. It contains details on the differences between each type of heating system as well as its benefits and drawbacks. Using this research, you can pick the water heater that best suits your requirements and offers you the most value for your money.
Gas vs electric water heaters, which is more affordable for heating water?
When purchasing a water heater, the two main types to think about are gas and electric. You must take into account a number of things before choosing one of them. The cost of a heater is usually the most important factor to consider, while some individuals also take efficiency, energy consumption, capacity, safety, and installation into account.
Of course, the preferred method is the second one. The energy consumption of gas and electric water heaters will be discussed in this article along with which is the best choice.
Gas water heaters:
A lot of homes use gas water heaters. They function as tanks that heat water using a burner fueled by natural gas or propane gas. The burner is located at the bottom of the tank, heating and boiling the water there before moving up to the top. The discharge tube at the top of gas heaters often pulls water up.
- Because gas is typically less expensive than electricity, gas water heaters are more affordable to operate than electric heaters. Compared to a gas heater, utilizing an electric heater will cost you more money. Additionally, gas water heaters heat water more quickly than electric ones and are useful during a power outage.
- However, be aware that gas water heaters use more energy than electric water heaters when you decide to get one. They may be faster and cheaper, but they use up a lot more energy. Heat loss that occurs during heating cycles is the cause of this energy waste.
- Gas-powered water heaters emit pollutants like carbon dioxide while also releasing energy throughout a heating cycle.
- Additionally, gas water heaters lose a lot of energy while reheating. Your heater replenishes the hot water you’ve used by adding cold water to the heater tank. It uses more energy than necessary for the gas heater to heat the incoming cold water.
- In addition to the issue of energy waste, households without gas lines must install them themselves when purchasing a gas water heater. A number of procedures, including getting the right permits, must be followed in order to install a gas line. Therefore, be prepared for some additional fees and a small delay if your home doesn’t yet have a gas line.
Gas Water Heater Pros:
- Speedier than electric heaters at heating the water.
- Less expensive to operate than electric heaters.
- Can heat water even when there is no power.
- Installing it is simpler. Anyone adept at simple “Do It Yourself” projects may install gas water heating systems.
Gas Water Heater Cons:
- Needs a gas line connection.
- More upkeep is necessary than with electric heaters.
- Proper ventilation is necessary since it emits carbon monoxide.
- Loss of heat causes less efficiency.
Electric water heaters:
An electric water heater uses high voltage rods installed in its tank to generate electricity to heat the water. Electric water heaters are available in a variety of sizes and designs.
- The size of an electric heater often affects how much energy it uses. Large water heaters often use more electricity. Electric water heaters are more efficient than gas water heaters, despite the fact that they could be slower.
- It’s actually fairly straightforward, despite how complicated it could seem. Electric heaters use less energy since they don’t lose any of the heat that they produce throughout the heating process.
- Compared to gas heaters, they might be more costly. Even yet, compared to gas heaters, which offer safety issues due to the emissions they produce and potential gas leaks, electric water heaters are generally safe.
- Energy factors, a common way for water heater manufacturers to gauge energy effectiveness, Gas heaters with high energy efficiency normally have an Energy factor of 0.67, whereas high energy efficiency electric heaters have an Energy factor of 0.99 or higher.
- Due to their lower operating costs, electric water heaters often result in greater energy savings.
Electric Water Heater Pros:
- Both tank-style and tankless kinds of electric water heaters are available.
- Since they don’t need a storage tank, tankless types are more space-efficient.
- Gas-powered water heaters are more expensive to run than electric ones.
- Due to the absence of the possibility of gas leaks, it is typically safer than gas water heaters.
Electric Water Heater Cons:
- Needs an electrical connection that is both dependable and powerful.
- Compared to gas ones, electric water heaters take longer to warm up.
- The high demand can be too much for tankless electric water heaters.
- Less quickly than a gas type at heating water.
Different kinds of Gas and Electric Water Heaters
Condensing boilers
Condensing boilers are the high-efficiency alternative for gas heaters. The cold water entering the tank is heated by these devices using the heat from the exhaust fumes. This can boost efficiency over conventional gas storage units by twenty percent. Condensing boilers, however, cost nearly twice as much to install initially as conventional boilers.
Heat pump device
The heat pump gadget is a relatively recent alternative for electric heating. To heat the water, these devices take heat from the air around them. To offer backup heating, electric resistance components are still present. The most effective household water heaters are heat pump systems, but they are also the most costly.
Storage tank
The most popular kind of water heater is a storage tank, which has a capacity of twenty to one hundred gallons of hot, ready-to-use water. Although this system produces a lot of hot water, it takes some time for the tank to recover after usage.
Tankless heating
Tankless heating warms water as it is needed, producing an endless supply of hot water. Traditionally, tankless heating employs electric coils, although gas-fired devices have lately gained popularity. The flow of water is restricted in these machines, which are more costly than conventional storage water heaters.
Differences in the installation procedure
A gas water heater requires a different replacement and installation procedure than an electric water heater. This is because you must additionally connect the water heater to a gas line in your home in addition to the plumbing system. This implies that compared to an electric installation, the procedure of installing a gas water heater is often more expensive and complicated.
Electric water heaters, on the other hand, are quite simple to install. Most of the time, all you need to do is link your water heater to your electrical system first, then to your plumbing. Because of this, homeowners who want to save money on installation or who like to do it themselves can choose electric water heaters.
Heating rate
If you have a big family or a high need for hot water, the pace at which a water heater warms water is a crucial factor to take into account. Compared to electric ones, gas water heaters often heat water more quickly.
For this reason, a gas water heater’s burners may generate more heat than an electric water heater’s heating components can. The recovery time is how long it takes a water heater to heat a specific volume of water. The recovery times of gas water heaters are often faster than those of electric ones. As a result, once the water has been utilised, they may heat it more quickly.
Ownership Expenses
The cost of ownership for a water heater consists of several factors, not just the original purchase price. The expenses for setup, use, and upkeep throughout the span of the unit’s lifetime must also be taken into account.
Upfront expenses
Gas water heaters often cost more up front than equivalent electric units. This is due to the fact that they need a gas line hookup, which can raise the installation costs. In contrast, installing an electric water heater is typically less expensive because it only needs to be connected to your home’s electrical system.
Running expenses
Electric water heaters often have higher running expenses than gas counterparts. Gas is more affordable to heat water with than electricity in the majority of states since its price is often lower. Remember to account for petrol price variations. In the future years, gas prices are anticipated to grow sharply.
Sensitivity to the environment
Electric water heaters are superior to gas units in a few ways if you care about the environment:
- There are no emissions from them.
- They utilize less energy.
- Their life spans are longer.
- Overall, they are more environmentally friendly.
- Renewable energy sources like solar and wind energy may be used to power them.
Compare gas and electric water heaters to make a well-informed decision
It might be challenging to decide between a gas and an electric water heater. We’ve thoroughly examined the two types of water heaters in this post so you can decide which is best for your house. Both the price of installation and the monthly energy consumption of gas and electric water heaters, as well as the lifespan of each kind of heater, have been examined.
Gas water heaters often cost more to install, consume more energy, and have a shorter lifespan than electric ones. Electric water heaters are easier to install, need less maintenance, and cost less to operate. Your particular demands and financial situation will ultimately determine which option is best for you.
Call Zebra Plumbing today, we’re your local plumbers in Melbourne for water heaters. Whether you live in Kew or Camberwell our plumbers are nearby. We can be there at your convenience to asses your home and help you decide on the right hot water heater for your needs.
