A gas water heater uses the heat from burning a fuel usually natural gas to heat water while an electric water heater uses electric resistance coils.
Gas vs electric water heater.
With a dependable water heater installed to provide your household s hot water needs bath time in the midst of winter is no longer a dreaded icy cold affair but it becomes an enjoyable experience that everyone in your family can look.
A gas or electric water heater s energy factor ef is a measurement that compares the amount of hot water the heater produces per day to the amount of fuel it consumes.
The initial investment is low.
However you will have to take the cost of the electricity used to operate the heater into consideration.
In many cases using an electric water heater will result in higher utility costs as compared to using a gas water heater.
We tell you what you need to know before buying an electric or gas storage tank water heater so you can pick the best option for your home.
For homes located in cold climates having hot water on demand is a necessity.
Gas vs electric water heater.
Michael bluejay aka mr.
You can find a high quality electric water heater for as little as 500.
A gas water heater with a tank has an average cost between 400 and 1 000 for the unit and between 500 and 700 for installation.
But when yours goes kaput a new water heater quickly becomes your most coveted major appliance.
For the most part the choice boils down to understanding gas vs.
Even top range electric heaters cost little more than 700.
The higher the ef number.
Before you decide that gas is the winner in the natural gas and propane vs electric hot water heater debate you need to consider the pros and cons of electric heaters.
Electricity has spent his career analyzing and understanding energy use including hot water heater energy savings and the differences between gas vs.
Electric water heater operating costs.
Gas water heaters are less energy efficient than electric heaters but the cost of electricity itself makes the running costs of an electric heater higher.
A tankless gas water heater has an average cost between 800 and 2 000 for the unit and between 1 000 and 1 500 for installation.
This makes the total cost for a 40 gallon electric hot water heater between 1000 and 1 700 with the total costs of a 40 gallon gas hot water heater between 1 400 and 2 800.
If your current gas line needs to be extended or you do not have a gas line expect to pay more for the cost of that labor.
Water heaters aren t the types of thing that get ogled on pinterest.