Should You Choose an Electric Water Heater or Gas?

You might be certain that you need to purchase a water heater, but should you choose electric or gas? There are pros and cons to each option, as well as other considerations like efficiency, recovery rate, first hour rating, and operating costs. Geesen's expert is here to help you pick the right water heater for your requirements.

Electric Water Heaters

Pros:

• Safer than gas
• No venting is required, so installation is less complex
• Only a small space is required for installation
• Less expensive to purchase

Cons:

• Requires more time to heat water
• Can be more expensive to operate because of the amount of electricity required to heat water

Other Considerations – Electric Water Heaters:

• Look for an efficiency rating of at least 88-95%
• The water heater’s recovery rate (how much water the tank can produce in 1 hour) should be around 20-22 gallons/hour, with a first hour rating (how much water is produced in 1 hour of continuous usage) at 70-80 gallons/hour
• Expect operating costs around $400 per year

 

Gas Water Heaters

Pros:

• Maintains water temperatures with less energy
• Heats water more quickly than electric
• Short and tall models available
• Excellent warranties available

Cons:

• More expensive to install
• Requires more space to install

There are a few considerations while opting for a gas water heater. These include:

• Look for an efficiency rating of at least 55-65%
• The water heater’s recovery rate (how much water the tank can produce in 1 hour) should be around 30-40 gallons/hour, with a first hour rating (how much water is produced in 1 hour of continuous usage) at 50-60 gallons/hour
• Expect operating costs around $120 per year