If you have decided that you want a tankless water heater for hot water supply to your house, then the question that arises is which type of tankless water heater? Because tankless water heaters can either work on gas or electricity.
This is an important choice to make because both of them are different from each other on many fronts. They differ in reliability, energy efficiency, and the price that you have to pay initially. Ultimately the choice will come down to your circumstances.
Here we have presented a detailed comparison between gas and tankless water heaters, go through it, and it will surely help you make a better decision.
Table of Contents
Gas vs. Electric Tankless Water Heater
Initial and Operating Cost
The gas tankless water heater will cost more compared to the electric units. You can get an electric unit for $500 to $700, while a gas unit will cost $1000 or more. The one factor to the low price of electric units is the less number of parts in them.
The gas units are expensive to purchase, and they are expensive to install too, the installation may require a new gas line and modification of retro pipes. While the same as unit cost, the installation cost for electric units is also less.
If we talk about the operating cost, then the electric units are more expensive to operate compared to the gas units because of the high cost of electricity. Whereas gas is easily available and costs less. However, if gas availability is a problem in some areas, then it might be expensive. If it is so, then an electrical unit will be a more economical option.
The operating cost of the unit varies based on how much heating is needed, your daily hot water consumption, and also the price of gas or electricity in your area.
Hot Water Flow Rate
The size of a tankless water heater is measured in terms of a flow rate. For a small family, the flow rate might not be a concern because both electric and gas units can provide hot water with enough flow rate. In general, the hot water needs of an average family is 8 GPM. This is just an estimate; if you don’t want to run short on hot water, you should measure the flow rate required in peak consumption.
Now, coming to the point, the gas units offer a better flow rate than the electric units. Electric tankless water can provide a flow rate of 3 to 8 GPM, and this will be enough for most households. If you want a higher flow rate, then you can install one more. The gas units offer better flow rates and are really useful when you need a very large flow rate, maybe for a big house.
Also, note that the flow rate of the unit also depends on the region and the climate. In colder regions, whether it is an electric or gas unit, they will provide a less flow rate compared to what they will offer in warm regions. To bring the cold water to the desired temperature, a heater will need to supply more heat, and this increases the time to heat the water and so decreases the flow rate.
Efficiency
As discussed, the operating cost of gas units will be less than that of electric units, and this is because gas is cheaper than electricity. But if you look at the efficiency, then electric water heaters are more efficient than the gas units, the efficiency of electric units is about 98% while for the gas units it is 80-85%.
The difference in efficiency is due to their working mechanism. A gas water heater will not utilize all the energy of the burned gas. Some of it will dissipate into the environment with the exhaust gases. On the other hand, most of the energy that electric heaters consume is converted and utilized to heat the water; this makes them highly efficient.
Environmental Impacts
If you want to make a conscious choice and don’t want to contribute to the harsh impact on the environment, then you should choose a heater that offers maximum efficiency, and that would be electric heaters. An electric heater offers the highest efficiency and works on electricity that can come from solar, wind, or hydroelectric power plants.
For gas water heaters, the exhaust will have toxic gases that are harmful to humans as well as to the environment. The presence of CO in the exhaust causes the increase in Global Warming. Also, the extraction process for gas is adverse and releases detrimental gases.
Installation
The installation cost, as mentioned, is higher for the gas tankless water heaters than the electric ones. The installation and its cost won’t create many issues if you are changing to a heater that uses the same fuel as your last one. But the complications come into the picture when you change from gas to electric or electric to gas.
First, the gas water will require a separate gas line to run it; existing lines can’t be used due to its high consumption. Moreover, to release exhaust gases, there will be a requirement for a venting system and an air supply system for combustion. Note that they are complex systems to install.
This will raise the installation cost much higher. It is still manageable if it is in open areas but gets even more complex in confined spaces. Also, the venting ducts will not be adequate, and if the sidewall venting is needed to be done, the process becomes more involved.
Whereas the installation of an electric system is a pretty straightforward, easy, and simple process, this is because they are small in size and don’t require any ventilating system or air supply system. Their small size makes it possible to install them in the smallest corners of the house, and they can be installed in a closet or under the sink.
It will result in reduced installation costs. The cost will increase if you don’t have a heavy-duty electric supply because they need more power to run satisfactorily; you will need a 200 amps electric supply.
Maintenance
The maintenance needs of electric heaters are next to nothing, and they don’t require much maintenance to function properly. To keep the system from a sediment build-up, which will be less for electric units, you can flush the system periodically. And also, cleaning of the inlet screen filter will need to be done, so that stuck particles don’t block the water flow.
In comparison, the gas units will require maintenance at regular intervals to get a long lifetime. There will be a mineral build-up inside the tank, so it can be removed by flushing a tank with the use of diluted white vinegar. They have complex heat exchangers and ventilation pipes. To inspect them, you will need the help of a trained professional. Moreover, the gas lines will need to be checked, and the inspection of the safety valve will also be required for safety concerns.
Conclusion
The choice will depend on your situation and your needs, whether you buy an electric or gas tankless water heater. If you don’t have a propane or natural gas connection to your house, then an electric heater can be a good choice. A natural gas water heater can supply higher GPM and will be the best for large houses, while the electric tankless water heaters are suitable for small houses and as a point-of-use heater.
Read More:
Best Propane Tankless Water Heaters
Pros and Cons Of Tankless Water Heaters
