Gas vs Electric Tankless Water Heater: Which is Best. Gas vs electric is often one of the first questions a potential buyer asks when choosing a new tankless water heater. However, the decision between which type of fuel you select for your new water heater may not be an option. Many areas are not fortunate enough to have both gas and electricity to choose from, and therefore must purchase the only option available. Although, if you are lucky enough to have the choice, there are a few things you should consider. The 3 most common fuel sources for tankless water heaters are electricity, natural gas and propane. An electric tankless water heater is a completely different design than gas models. However, a gas unit is designed to burn either natural gas OR propane. Other than the type of fuel used, natural gas or propane, the units operate much the same. Most manufactures offer both a natural gas and a propane model. Gas vs Electric Tankless Water Heater: Which is the Better Choice. There really isn't a simple answer to the question of which is best. Both gas and electric water heaters are good choices and both have their own specific set of strengths. Each household has it's own unique circumstances, what is a perfect match for your neighbor, may not be a good fit in meeting your needs. Selecting which type of tankless to purchase is a critical decision that should be based on your household hot water demands, budget, installation opportunities and personal preferences. We highly recommend consulting with a professional that can give you specific guidance for your individual situation. Gas vs Electric Tankless Water Heater: What to Consider Gas Tankless Water Heater. A quality gas tankless water heater can easily run over $1,0. The more "bells and whistles" you select, the higher the price. Non- condensing units are less expensive to purchase, however, they are also more expensive to install. This is largely because of the venting requirements. Condensing units eliminate the need to vent altogether. These units have a more sophisticated design and therefore, are more expensive. Electric Tankless Water Heater. An electric tankless water heater is significantly less expensive than gas units. This tutorial describes how to troubleshoot and repair a tank type electric hot water heater in your home. A quality electric unit can be purchased for $5. We highly recommend hiring a qualified professional to install your new water heater. It's critical that it's installed correctly, both from a safety and results standpoint. A tankless water heater is a major investment and spending the money to have it properly installed is a worthwhile expense. Gas Tankless Water Heater. Gas tankless units are far more complicated and expensive to install. Non- condensing gas tankless water heaters require a complex venting system that provides adequate air flow for combustion as well as expensive category III venting material made from stainless steel. A home's existing venting ducts and gas lines are seldom compatible with a gas tankless water heater. There often are costly home modifications necessary to accommodate for the venting and gas requirements. Electric Tankless Water Heater. Electric tankless water heaters are much easier to install, and easier generally means less expensive as well. Electric units are much smaller than gas water heaters. They are usually about a third the size. Since there is no gas combustion, an electric unit doesn't require ventilation. Not only does this significantly reduce the installation costs, but it also provides flexibility as to where these units can be installed. Electric units are less complex, and because they are so much smaller than gas tankless water heaters they can be installed in closets and other out- of- the- way spaces. This is a particular advantage for new home construction where the unit's electrical requirements can be planned. If upgrading your home's power is not necessary, an electric unit is very easy and inexpensive to install.There are 2 main components that make up the overall operating costs of a tankless water heater, the cost of the fuel and how efficiently the unit uses the fuel. Fuel Cost. Currently gas prices are lower than electricity in most area. This makes the overall operating costs less expensive for a gas tankless unit. Fuel prices vary in different regions. In some areas the price of gas is much higher than electricity. Gas prices are more volatile and fluctuate more dramatically than electricity prices. Gas prices are expected to increase in the future. Most economists agree that electricity prices should remain relatively stable, while gas prices will likely increase significantly. EfficiencyThe efficiency rating of a water heater is based on the amount of hot water produced by a single unit of fuel. The more efficient a particular tankless unit, the less fuel is wasted when producing hot water. Electric tankless water heaters are far more efficient than gas tankless units which helps offset the higher price of electricity. Gas Tankless Water Heater. · A water heater, especially an electric model, is a very simple device. Unheated water enters one side of the tank. The water is heated by a couple of. Gas vs Electric Tankless Water Heater: Which is the Better Choice. There really isn't a simple answer to the question of which is best. Both gas and electric water. Tankless Water Heater Installation & Repairs: TANKLESS WATER HEATER SPOTLIGHT. These are some of the most popular models in the tankless industry. Gas tankless water heaters generally achieve 8. Currently the price of gas is lower than electricity, making gas units less expensive to operate. However, with fuel fluctuations and the improved efficiency of an electric tankless water heater this may not always be the case. Electric Tankless Water Heater. Electric tankless heaters consistently achieve an efficiency score in the 9. Many regions experience extremely high gas prices, making an electric tankless less expensive to operate over a gas unit. Even with higher electricity costs the efficiency of an electric unit will offset the higher fuel prices. Tankless water heaters measure their output in terms of flow: How many gallons per minute (GPM) a unit can deliver. As a general rule, 8 GPM is enough hot water for the average family, but it's important to evaluate your specific household's hot water needs. There is nothing worse than running short of hot water . Colder regions will have a lower GPM flow rate than warmer regions. This is because the incoming water will be cooler and the tankless water heater will need to work harder in order to heat the water to the desired output temperature. In the gas vs electric debate, the gas unit often performs better, especially when larger amounts of water is needed. Gas Tankless Water Heater. Gas tankless water heaters are capable of delivering more hot water (over 8 GPM) than electric heaters. A gas tankless unit may be a better fit for a household with a large family that has a high demand for hot water. Electric Tankless Water Heater. An electric tankless water heater is capable of delivering 8 GPM of hot water. Both electric and gas units output GPM is affected by the incoming water temperature. Gas Tankless Water Heater. Gas tankless water heaters require more maintenance than electric units. A gas unit should be inspected annually by a licensed technician who will make sure that the fuel is combusting safely and the unit is performing properly. Because gas units are prone to mineral scale build- up, they need to be flushed on a regular basis. The water inlet screen should be cleaned on a regular basis to remove any debris. General maintenance tasks can be completed by the homeowner, but many choose to hire a professional. Electric Tankless Water Heater. Electric tankless water heaters require very minimal maintenance. The inlet screen filter should be cleaned as needed and the unit should be flushed annually. A traditional water heater will eventually begin leaking and need to be replaced, but a tankless unit is built to last. Because they are designed to be repaired, the unit's parts can be replaced as needed. A typical tankless water heater service life is about 2. Service Life Factors: These Factors Can Impact Your Tankless Water Heater's Service Life. Acidic Water - When water is too acidic it will break down the heat exchanger and plumbing within the water heater. It is also unhealthy and hard on your home's plumbing and other appliances. In most cases, acidic water is already treated prior to installing a tankless, but in the case of new home construction it is an important issue to address. Hard Water - Water that contains high levels of minerals will cause a gas tankless to build scale within the unit at a faster rate. A whole house water softener can be installed or simply performing more frequent flushings will resolve the problem. Keep in mind that is will still be necessary to complete the annual maintenance tasks.
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