GAS OR ELECTRIC TANKLESS WATER HEATER?

“Should I purchase a Gas or Electric Tankless Water Heater?” This is a question I see being asked very regularly by consumers, especially those who have had little or no experience with these kinds of units in the past.

There is no straightforward way to answer this question though as it all depends on your specific circumstances and the hot water demands of your particular residence. Whether to buy a gas or electric model is part of a much wider question with many points to consider.

First of all some background on each. Electric Tankless Water Heaters are powered by electricity and use an electric element to heat the incoming flow of water. They tend to be more compact in design than gas units and require no ventilation. Although they do require much more power to operate so are usually a better option for small residences of only a few persons.

Tankless Gas Water Heaters are operated by way of Natural Gas or Propane. They use gas burners to heat the incoming water flow and tend to be larger and much more powerful than their electric counterparts, which more often than not makes them a better option for large families living in larger households where hot water demand will be high. One of the disadvantages of these units is due to the fact they are operated by gas it means they require external ventilation and this is something to bear in mind prior to purchase.

So as you can see just by diving a little deeper into each respective unit it is already becoming clear why the answer to this question is different from case to case. What kind of Tankless Water Heater you need is a multi-faceted question with many things to take into consideration such as the size of your home and how many people (if any) that you live with, the price of gas and electricity in your area, the climate where you live and many, many more factors. This video here will also help to clarify some of the issues.

As stated above though for the most part electric units are better for smaller homes of 1 or 2 people and in the rare areas where electricity is cheaper than gas. Whereas gas units are usually a more energy efficient option for larger residences with high hot water demand. Take this info and combine it with the other considerations I mentioned above, along with the advice of a local contractor and you will be able to determine whether you need a Gas or Electric Tankless Water Heater.