Water Heaters - gas or electric hot water heater
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bvjact
12-21-08, 01:22 PM
we are having to purchase our first major appliance in a 120 yr old home that we have lived in for 8 yrs. This house is both gas and electric and the hot water heater is electric and it is leaking badly so we need to replace it. Should we buy electric again or gas - we don't know which one is more economical or better to use. We live in the north where power does go out in winter and we do not have a generator but don't know if water stays hot with gas very long - no experience. Thank you for your help. Virginia
Tolyn Ironhand
12-21-08, 05:04 PM
In most areas gas is cheaper than electric to run, but you would have to see how much you pay per KWH for electric and compare that to the gas you use. (natural or LP)
Electric are cheaper to buy and would be easier to install since it would be swap with the old one. You may have to buy a power vent gas model which vents the exhaust horizontal if you do not have a vent going out your roof (or one that is big enough.) Power vented models are not hard to vent because they use 2" PVC for venting but it is just another thing to consider.
Also check with your power company to see if they have an off peak program if you go electric. Depending on your water use, you get an over sized electric water heater (around 100 gal) and it only heats the water during off peak times. You pay only about 1/2 per KWH. My boss has this water heater: Marathon Water Heaters (http://www.marathonheaters.com/) and it will keep water warm (hotish?) up to 5 days (Turns it off on Sunday and on again Friday) at his lake place. If you look, many of the dealers for the Marathon's are Elec Co.
Electric are cheaper to buy and would be easier to install since it would be swap with the old one. You may have to buy a power vent gas model which vents the exhaust horizontal if you do not have a vent going out your roof (or one that is big enough.) Power vented models are not hard to vent because they use 2" PVC for venting but it is just another thing to consider.
Also check with your power company to see if they have an off peak program if you go electric. Depending on your water use, you get an over sized electric water heater (around 100 gal) and it only heats the water during off peak times. You pay only about 1/2 per KWH. My boss has this water heater: Marathon Water Heaters (http://www.marathonheaters.com/) and it will keep water warm (hotish?) up to 5 days (Turns it off on Sunday and on again Friday) at his lake place. If you look, many of the dealers for the Marathon's are Elec Co.
Civicminded
12-25-08, 02:19 PM
In central Indiana it is cheaper to have electric vs propane, however if natural gas was available it might be cheaper than electric. It depends on what you have for options. There are websites to help you decide if you just plug in the numbers.
Rivethead
12-25-08, 04:22 PM
Maybe think about tankless water heaters. This model doesn't even require electric to operate. There are other models with the built in power vent if you need that option. Saves on your utility bill and you take a $300 tax credit too.
Features and Specifications for the Bosch Model 1600H Tankless Water Heater (http://www.boschhotwater.com/BoschHotWatercomHome/GasProducts/BoschModel1600H/FeaturesandSpecs/tabid/1024/Default.aspx)
Features and Specifications for the Bosch Model 1600H Tankless Water Heater (http://www.boschhotwater.com/BoschHotWatercomHome/GasProducts/BoschModel1600H/FeaturesandSpecs/tabid/1024/Default.aspx)
594tough
12-25-08, 08:06 PM
Maybe think about tankless water heaters. This model doesn't even require electric to operate. There are other models with the built in power vent if you need that option. Saves on your utility bill and you take a $300 tax credit too.
Features and Specifications for the Bosch Model 1600H Tankless Water Heater (http://www.boschhotwater.com/BoschHotWatercomHome/GasProducts/BoschModel1600H/FeaturesandSpecs/tabid/1024/Default.aspx)
The model mentioned would get you one 2.4 GPM at about 70º rise, which is borderline in the cold winter, and would give you one shower or sink at a time. The unit would probably run between $400 and $500, appropriate direct, gravity, or power vent kits...another $400. Install could easily run $800 to $1800 depending. I don't see a payback within the reasonable lifespan of the unit. Many folks with tankless love them, and IF properly sized and installed, they do have performance features. I am overall just less than enthusiastic.
Features and Specifications for the Bosch Model 1600H Tankless Water Heater (http://www.boschhotwater.com/BoschHotWatercomHome/GasProducts/BoschModel1600H/FeaturesandSpecs/tabid/1024/Default.aspx)
The model mentioned would get you one 2.4 GPM at about 70º rise, which is borderline in the cold winter, and would give you one shower or sink at a time. The unit would probably run between $400 and $500, appropriate direct, gravity, or power vent kits...another $400. Install could easily run $800 to $1800 depending. I don't see a payback within the reasonable lifespan of the unit. Many folks with tankless love them, and IF properly sized and installed, they do have performance features. I am overall just less than enthusiastic.
Rivethead
12-25-08, 08:43 PM
The model mentioned would get you one 2.4 GPM at about 70º rise, which is borderline in the cold winter, and would give you one shower or sink at a time. The unit would probably run between $400 and $500, appropriate direct, gravity, or power vent kits...another $400. Install could easily run $800 to $1800 depending. I don't see a payback within the reasonable lifespan of the unit. Many folks with tankless love them, and IF properly sized and installed, they do have performance features. I am overall just less than enthusiastic.
Agree on the output of the unit shown but the installation should not be anymore than a standard gas unit if he already has a vent. Other models also shown will run a washer, dishwasher and shower at once. I wouldn't want to try that with the 40 gal. gas tank I have now (which will get replaced with tankless when it dies). My understanding is the lifespan on these units is 20 years and a few other upsides:
Is very small and can hang on the wall, thereby saving you valuable floor space.
Is designed with replaceable parts and is built with such materials as copper, stainless steel, and aluminum so as to last a lifetime. Energy savings is only one segment of savings—with proper care this could be the only water heater one needs in a lifetime.
Is almost entirely recyclable, so if you ever decide to replace it, it doesn’t have to go to the landfill.
Will not develop a corrosive leak like a storage tank water heater, saving you from expensive water damage in your home.
Maintains its efficiency throughout the lifetime of the unit. Storage tank water heaters decrease in efficiency over time due to mineral build-up inside the tank. This is due to the fact that storage tank water heaters store hot water, giving those minerals a chance to settle out and bake from the heat onto the walls of the tank, and onto the heating element in electric models, thereby reducing heat transfer.
Agree on the output of the unit shown but the installation should not be anymore than a standard gas unit if he already has a vent. Other models also shown will run a washer, dishwasher and shower at once. I wouldn't want to try that with the 40 gal. gas tank I have now (which will get replaced with tankless when it dies). My understanding is the lifespan on these units is 20 years and a few other upsides:
Is very small and can hang on the wall, thereby saving you valuable floor space.
Is designed with replaceable parts and is built with such materials as copper, stainless steel, and aluminum so as to last a lifetime. Energy savings is only one segment of savings—with proper care this could be the only water heater one needs in a lifetime.
Is almost entirely recyclable, so if you ever decide to replace it, it doesn’t have to go to the landfill.
Will not develop a corrosive leak like a storage tank water heater, saving you from expensive water damage in your home.
Maintains its efficiency throughout the lifetime of the unit. Storage tank water heaters decrease in efficiency over time due to mineral build-up inside the tank. This is due to the fact that storage tank water heaters store hot water, giving those minerals a chance to settle out and bake from the heat onto the walls of the tank, and onto the heating element in electric models, thereby reducing heat transfer.