Gas or Electric Traditional Water Heaters?

Water heaters come in numerous shapes and sizes, from 10 gallons up to 250 gallons. There are water heaters with tanks and without, but one thing that will always be limited, is the decision between natural gas and electric. What are some of the differences between gas and electric?


Natural Gas Water Heaters:

  Natural gas has a lot of upsides, but like everything in this life, some cons. First and foremost to have a gas water heater, one requires a natural gas line, and this is not required in homes, so some just don't have the accessibility to it. Installing natural gas to your home can be pricey and carry a large price tag. Gas water heaters also tend to have a pricier installation and unit cost upfront and need to have proper ventilation and regular inspections to maintain the system and prevent dangerous gas leaks.

Let's look at the positives, in terms of efficiency natural gas leads the way, being more cost efficient on your utility bill. The convenience is there too, with a fast heat exchange replenishing your hot water at a quicker rate than an electric water heater. Gas heaters also maintain a consistent performance, operating effectively in a range of environments and climates. The cherry on top is you don't have to stress about a power outage, with a gas water heater and lit pilot, the hot water stays flowing even when the lights go out!

Electric Water Heaters:



  Electric water heaters have their drawbacks too, with electricity being generally more expensive than gas, the long term use will increase utilities costs. Also electric water heaters aren't quite as efficient leading to longer wait times for water to reheat. Maintenance is important as well, as electric heaters are more vulnerable to hard water scale, effecting elements and damping efficiency. Electric heaters are also susceptible to power outages, with not power, no hot water.

 There's an upside though! Electric water heaters generally have a lower upfront cost with less expensive units and installations. No need to stress about venting as there less safety concern, no gas leaks to worry about with electric. Electric water heaters offer more than ease of installation, but versatility, such as the example photo shown to the right. With no vent required, they are easily stowed under A/C units, in tight garage corners, under stairwells, and more...

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