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Bookmark this page: Tankless water heaters
Electric versus gas, the big debate:
Electric or gas? In reality, there is no right answer to this
question. What is better for one household might not be the best for
another. The decision to select an electric or gas tankless water
heater should be made with the homeowner or business' individual
circumstances in mind. The following factors all play a role in
choosing what type of tankless water heater is best for your needs:
The availability of a convenient source of natural gas or propane
and/or an adequate electrical supply to support another high-output
appliance.
The relative cost of installation
The difference in cost between an appropriately sized electric and
gas tankless water heater
Water usage habits and needs
Homeowner/ user preference
The differential between electric costs and gas costs in your area,
and your personal outlook for changes in such costs in the future.
Desired installation location
Availability of Energy Source:
The availability of adequate electricity, natural gas, or propane,
can obviously affect the decisions as to which type of tankless
water heater is best for your home or business. Electric tankless
water heaters are very high power appliances.
They heat water entirely on demand; their peak electricity needs are
substantial even though their total energy consumption is much lower
than traditional tank-type water heaters. Consequently, it is
generally required that a home have a 200 amp, 208 to 240 volt
electrical service to run an electric tankless water heater (some
exceptions apply if you live in a warm climate region). Some homes
or businesses do not have such electrical services available and
upgrades can sometimes be expensive. On the other hand, the
installation of a gas tankless water heater would almost
certainly be uneconomical if the building did not have an existing
natural gas or propane service. Gas tankless water heaters are often
well suited for installations in remote cabins etc. where electrical
power is generally limited to a generator as they can be supplied
with propane power.
Cost of Installation:
Unless an electric system/service upgrade is require, the
installation of an electric tankless water heater is generally
considerably cheaper than the installation of a gas tankless water
heater. The reason for this is a gas tankless water heater requires
ventilation like any gas burning appliance. In some cases, existing
ventilation ductwork can be used, however, this might not always be
the case.
Initial Cost:
Electric tankless water heaters cost less than their gas
counterparts did.
Water Usage Habits & Needs:
For most homeowners and businesses, their water usage patterns and
needs will not affect their choice of what type of water heater they
should select. For families with heavier hot water needs, a gas
tankless water heater can generally provide a higher flow rate than
an electric tankless system.
Homeowner Preference:
Despite for decades their widespread safe use as home heating fuels,
some homeowners do not feel comfortable using natural gas or
propane. For piece of mind, in such instances, an electric tankless
water heater is a better choice. Other homeowners may prefer one
type for other reasons, including the availability of energy
(electricity or gas) in the event of a major regional emergency such
as a natural disaster. Still others may prefer one type to another
for environmental reasons. Electric tankless water heaters are
extremely energy efficient, with more than 98% of energy supplied to
the units actually being used to heat the water. Gas tankless water
heaters generally have an energy factor of less than 80%. Gas water
heaters of all types contribute to greenhouse gases (although
electric units could too if the electricity is generated by the
power utility through the burning of fossil fuels).
Energy Costs:
Ongoing operating costs are obviously an important consideration. As
a rule, gas tankless water heaters will cost about 10 to 20% less to
operate than an electric tankless water system. This will depend
greatly on the differential between natural gas or propane and
electricity costs in your area. There are many regions where gas
costs are extremely high due to the lack of supply in the region. In
these areas, an electric unit can be significantly cheaper to
operate. Remember, electric tankless water heaters are more energy
efficient, so some of the cost difference between the fuels will be
negated
Installation Location:
Electric tankless water heaters are very small, about one-third the
size of a gas tankless water heater. Because of their small size and
the fact that they do not require ventilation of exhaust gases, they
can be installed in many locations where it is not feasible to
install a gas tankless water heater. Accordingly, electric tankless
water heaters can often be located closer to the actual
point-of-use.
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