Electric Vs GAS Tankless Water Heaters
An electric or gas tankless water heater? Which one should I go for? These questions will cross your mind each time you plan to purchase a tankless water heater. The truth is, there is no answer to the questions. The tankless water heater that works for one household may not work for another. For this reason, the choice of either a gas or electric water heater depends on the buyer’s circumstances. Either of the tankless water heaters will work for you depending on factors such as hot water demands in your household, budget, and your preference. It is worth noting that gas and electric tankless water heaters work differently in so many things. The only similarity about them is that they both heat water. We have discussed some of the factors you need to consider before purchasing either of the tankless water heaters below.
● Cost
You will realize that electric tankless water heaters are way cheaper than gas tankless water heaters. The best quality gas tankless water heater will cost you more than $ 1000 and you will still need to purchase some installation gadgets separately. You may purchase a less expensive gas tankless water heater but the installation charges are high thus raise the whole cost of the water heater. These gas tankless water heaters come with condensing and non-condensing systems which have some venting requirements. One has to make some modifications to accommodate venting. This makes them come with some sophisticated designs making them more expensive.
As for Electric tankless water heaters, they are significantly cheap. You can get a high-quality electric water heater for $ 500 – $ 600. This includes the installation costs making them cheaper than the gas tankless water heaters. Electric tankless water heaters are also smaller in size thus occupy little space. You will not need to do any modifications for the electric heater to fit in a room. Also, an electric tankless water heater does not need ventilation. This makes them easy to install thus little installation costs. Also, you will not experience challenges on where to install the electric tankless water heaters. They are the best for small spaces like bathrooms, under the sinks and also in cabins.
● Operation Costs
To calculate the operation costs, you need to consider how much you will use on fuel and how efficient the tankless water heater is when it comes to using the fuel. You will notice that gas prices are mostly lower than electricity in most areas. This makes gas tankless water heaters cheaper to use than electric ones in those specific areas. Another advantage of using the gas tankless water heaters is that gas prices keep fluctuating as compared to electricity prices. However, electricity prices are likely to remain stable for a long time while gas prices can be quite unstable.
How do I determine the efficiency rate of any tankless water heater? You determine the efficiency rate of any water heater through how much water it heats using a single unit. The more efficient either water heater is, the lesser the energy is needed to produce enough hot water. In this case, electric tankless water heaters are more energy-efficient as compared to gas tankless water heaters. However, gas tankless water heaters become more efficient in heating water when gas prices are low. The only thing you need to know is that despite the high electricity prices, the efficiency of electric tankless water heaters surpasses the high electricity prices.
● Cost of Maintenance
Maintenance is vital to all water heaters to keep them working. You need to keep servicing them every often to make them efficient and for them to serve you for long. Electric tankless water heaters require minimal maintenance as compared to gas tankless water heaters. You have to keep servicing a tankless water heater for it to work efficiently while an electric tankless water heater can work for years without needing inspection. You must hire a professional when servicing either a gas or electric tankless water heater.
● Warranty
A warranty is vital when purchasing both electric and gas water heaters. Most gas tankless water heaters come with a 10-year warranty on the heat exchanger and 5 years warranty for the parts while an electric tankless water heater has a 5-year warranty on parts and a 1-year labor warranty. It is therefore evident that the gas tankless water heater has a better warranty than the electric tankless water heater. A warranty saves on costs. In case of any damages within the warranty, you get free repairs and may get replacements when the tankless water heaters fail. It is therefore important for any buyer to consider a warranty when purchasing either an electric or gas tankless water heater.
Final Thought
Tankless water heaters have gained popularity over time. They are the best choice especially for someone with a high demand for hot water. However, most people encounter challenges when it comes to choosing a gas or electric tankless water heater. Through our guide on electric vs gas tankless water heaters, you have noted that their biggest similarity is that they both deliver hot water. They are only different when it comes to their functionality. This means that your preference, needs, and circumstances determine whether you should go for a gas or electric tankless water heater.
Most professionals advise buyers to go for electric tankless water heaters. This is because they are more efficient and reliable, easy to install, cheaper, and need minimal maintenance as compared to gas tankless water heaters. Electric tankless water heaters also come with a simple design that can fit in any room excellently. The features of an electric tankless water heater save you a lot of costs thus gives you more reasons to go for it. On the other hand, gas tankless water heaters are a great choice especially when your hot water needs are high. Their only disadvantage is that they are difficult to troubleshoot mostly because of their complicated heat exchanger.
