The demand for tankless water heaters is rising because there is no limitation on hot water availability. Besides, this does not take up much space, contrary to a gas water heater. Hence, the place where you install the water heater looks neat instead of awkward. You get hot water directly from the tap without any waiting time, and therefore, a tankless heater is a perfect fit for modern homes.
Regarding heaters, you have to choose from a gas or an electric water heater. In a gas tankless water heater, natural gas or propane gas is used to heat up the water. On the contrary, electricity is used to heat up the water in the case of an electric heater. There are distinct advantages and disadvantages of gas and electric water heaters. We will discuss the differences between the two in detail so that you can choose one easily.
What is a Tankless Gas Water Heater?
A heater where gas is used to heat up the water is called a gas tankless water heater. Two types of gas are used in heating water – natural gas or propane gas. Propane is more expensive than natural gas but has greater heating ability than natural gas and even electricity.
A tankless gas heater is ideal for large families as it can provide hot water for longer compared to a tankless electric water heater. You can also use hot water in the winter to wash laundry and dishes. Therefore, if you need unlimited hot water for a longer period, a tankless gas water heater is perfect for you.
What Is a Tankless Electric Water Heater?
A water heater where electricity is used to heat up water is called a tankless electric water heater. Such a water heater has less maintenance and a longer lifespan. It is less expensive than a gas tankless water heater. It is perfectly suitable for small families because its heating capacity is nearly half that of a gas one. There is no external gas line requirement, and there is no risk of gas leakage.
Advantages and Disadvantages
You should be aware of the advantages and disadvantages of gas and electric tankless water heaters.
Gas
Advantages:
- It has relatively high heating capacity.
- It can provide more hot water per minute.
- The overall operational cost is relatively less.
- It can meet huge hot water requirements.
Disadvantages:
- It costs more than an electric tankless water heater.
- The installation and annual maintenance are higher.
- There is a need for a proper venting system.
- The environmental impact is high.
Electric
Advantages:
- It costs nearly half of a gas tankless water heater.
- The installation cost is relatively less.
- No separate venting installation is required.
- The annual maintenance is relatively less.
- The environmental impact is low.
Disadvantages:
- The heating capacity is low.
- It won’t work when there is a power
- The overall operational cost is higher.
Differences Between the Gas & Electric
You need a complete understanding of the differences between these two water heaters so that you can choose the best one for you.
1. Installation
An electric tankless water heater is almost one-third the size of a gas heater. Therefore, you can install it anywhere without much of a space constraint. The installation is relatively easy, so the installation cost is low.
On the contrary, a gas tankless water heater is relatively large, so there is a space constraint. There is a need for a proper venting system, which is critical for proper functioning and the security of the heater and the users. The regular ventilation system is insufficient for a gas heater as gas consumption is higher. Due to the venting requirement, the installation cost goes up. Overall, the installation process is slightly complex and takes up more time.
Winner – Electric Tankless Water Heater
2. Initial Cost price
The initial cost of purchasing an electric water heater is lower than that of a gas water heater. More specifically, a tankless water heater costs between $500 to $800, while a gas tankless water heater costs over $1000.
Winner – Electric Tankless Water Heater
3. Maintenance
An electric tankless water heater requires very little maintenance. The inlet filter needs to be cleaned from time to time which any user can do. On the other hand, a gas water heater needs a technician for proper maintenance regarding cleaning and flushing. Besides, regular inspection is required to prevent any leakage and malfunctioning.
Winner – Electric Tankless Water Heater
4. Water Needs
You must choose a gas tankless water heater if you have huge hot water demand. This is because a gas heater can produce more heat and hot water. To be more specific, the flow rate is up to 8 GPM for electric heaters, while that of gas heaters is 8 to 20 GPM. Therefore, a gas tankless water heater is ideal for a large family.
Winner – Gas Tankless Water Heater
5. Operating Costs
The cost of gas as a fuel is lower than that of electricity in the long run. On the contrary, an electric tankless water heater is more energy-efficient with efficiency standing at 98% while that of a gas heater is 90%. Besides, the installation and maintenance cost of electric heaters is less than that of gas heaters if you want to consider the operational cost.
Moreover, the cost of gas is likely to rise higher than electricity worldwide. Therefore, even if you consider the operational cost of a gas heater relatively low currently, it is likely to go up going forward.
Winner – Gas Tankless Water Heater
6. Warranty
Since the durability of electric tankless water heaters is higher than a gas tankless water heater. Therefore, brands offer a higher warranty period on electric water heaters. However, it varies from brand to brand as well as the price of the specific heater. There are many gas tankless water heaters with a higher warranty period than electric heaters. Therefore, you must check specifically and understand which offers a better warranty period.
Winner – Nil
7. Environmental Impact
You need natural gas or propane gas to run a gas heater; therefore, it depends on fossil fuels. Therefore, a gas tankless water heater is indirectly impacting the environment negatively in the long run. Besides, the emission from gas burning impacts the environment. On the contrary, electricity can be generated from renewable sources like solar power. Hence, the environmental impact can be negligible in the long run if consumers use electric heaters.
Winner – Electric Tankless Water Heater
8. Availability of Resources
The availability of electricity is common for any building. However, an electric tankless water heater needs 200A and 208V to 240V current supply to run smoothly. There are several rural areas where the electricity specifications may not meet. In such situations, a gas tankless water heater is the only option.
Natural gas or propane gas is readily available as it is a domestic fuel. There could already be an existing natural gas distribution system available. However, installing one could be expensive if your building does not have a distribution system. In such situations, an electric tankless water heater is the best option.
Winner – Nil
9. Weight
A gas tankless water heater weighs many times heavier than an electric tankless water heater. To be more specific, an electric tankless water heater can weigh around 10 pounds, while a gas tankless water heater can weigh around 50 pounds.
Winner – Electric Tankless Water Heater
10. Venting
Venting is absolutely critical for a gas tankless water heater. You are dealing with combustible gas, and hence, venting is important. The usual ventilation system won’t work, so you have to spend extra to get a proper venting system in place. This also means you cannot install a gas heater anywhere due to a lack of venting option. On the contrary, an electric tankless water heater has no venting requirement. You can install it anywhere without any conditions.
Winner – Electric Tankless Water Heater
11. Heating Rate
The heating rate is absolutely critical for a water heater. The higher the heating rate, the more hot water the heater can produce. A gas tankless water heater has a higher heating rate than an electric tankless water heater. This is because gas can produce more heat than electricity. Therefore, a gas tankless water heater can heat water faster than an electric heater, so it can easily meet huge demand.
Winner – Gas Tankless Water Heater
12. Durability
It has been found that an electric tankless water heater is more durable than a gas heater. In fact, an electric heater has nearly double the lifespan than that of a gas heater. This is more to do with the fact that an electric heater needs less maintenance, so it can work perfectly for years.
On the contrary, the need for proper maintenance lowers the lifespan of a gas heater, though regular and proper maintenance can elongate its durability. Due to higher durability, an electric tankless water heater is more cost-efficient.
Winner – Electric Tankless Water Heater
Conclusion
The choice between gas and electric water heater depends on a few factors. Both heaters have their fair share of advantages and disadvantages. An electric heater may seem to be a better option going by the differences. However, you have to consider hot water demand before choosing one.
If you have a large family with a constant hot water requirement, you must choose a gas water heater. This is because a gas water heater can dish out more gallons of water for any time interval than an electric water heater. But if you have budget constraints and do not want to spend much on installation and maintenance, you must choose an electric water heater. However, an electric tankless water heater suits small families with relatively less hot water demand.
