Electric or Gas? This is a frequently asked question, particularly among consumers new to these products. They wonder whether they should get a Tankless Gas Water Heater or an Electric Tankless Water Heater, however providing an answer to this query is not as straightforward as you may think.
The reason for this is because no 2 people's circumstances will be exactly the same, and which unit is best for you depends entirely on your specific requirements and living situation. An electric unit may in fact be a great purchase for you yet a terribly inefficient and uneconomical one for someone else. Therefore you must do your homework and speak to local contractors to ascertain which is the best course of action to take. In future posts we'll dive deeper into that subject, however first of all let's take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of each unit respectively.
ELECTRIC TANKLESS WATER HEATERS
Electric units will no doubt be the future of home water heating however we are not quite there yet. They often have much more technology driven features than gas units, with extremely accurate digital temperature controls and displays. Also they are almost always more compact and usually boast sleek and stylish designs which make them easy to install in the home.
Another thing that highlights this ease of installation, and perhaps one of their biggest advantages is that electric models do not require ventilation. As they use an electric element to heat the incoming flow of water they have no need for ventilation at all, meaning they are highly convenient.
We mentioned above that we are not quite where we need to be in terms of electric units becoming more popular than gas units and there is a big reason for this. For the most part electric heaters use up vast amounts of energy when in operation and as such this makes them an uneconomical option for many.
Another fact to highlight this is the price of electricity compared to gas. In the majority of locations around the country gas is far cheaper than electricity and therefore it makes financial sense to use a gas powered unit. Although having said this it does not mean that an electric unit will not be right for you. In fact the most common situation where an electric model would be viable would be if you live alone, or perhaps with 1 other person in a small apartment. However in a high demand household it would be unlikely.
TANKLESS GAS WATER HEATERS
Gas units have many advantages. Without a doubt though their main advantages lie in their power and economic viability. Gas models are usually very powerful and capable of high volume output and flow rates. If you have a large family and live in a large household the chances are that you would require a gas water heater to support your high demand.
As mentioned above they are more economically viable due to the cheap price of gas compared to electricity. However their main drawback is probably the fact they require ventilation. Due to burning a fossil fuel they release emissions which must be vented. This means when installing one of these units in your home you must be aware that you will require access to the exterior of the building for an associated ventilation system.
This was a broad overview of both of the main types of unit and should steer you in the right direction. However to make sure you make the correct purchasing decision there are many other factors which must be taken into consideration. We will cover these in the next post to make sure you have all the information you need to choose the best Tankless Water Heater for you.
The reason for this is because no 2 people's circumstances will be exactly the same, and which unit is best for you depends entirely on your specific requirements and living situation. An electric unit may in fact be a great purchase for you yet a terribly inefficient and uneconomical one for someone else. Therefore you must do your homework and speak to local contractors to ascertain which is the best course of action to take. In future posts we'll dive deeper into that subject, however first of all let's take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of each unit respectively.
ELECTRIC TANKLESS WATER HEATERS
Electric units will no doubt be the future of home water heating however we are not quite there yet. They often have much more technology driven features than gas units, with extremely accurate digital temperature controls and displays. Also they are almost always more compact and usually boast sleek and stylish designs which make them easy to install in the home.
Another thing that highlights this ease of installation, and perhaps one of their biggest advantages is that electric models do not require ventilation. As they use an electric element to heat the incoming flow of water they have no need for ventilation at all, meaning they are highly convenient.
We mentioned above that we are not quite where we need to be in terms of electric units becoming more popular than gas units and there is a big reason for this. For the most part electric heaters use up vast amounts of energy when in operation and as such this makes them an uneconomical option for many.
Another fact to highlight this is the price of electricity compared to gas. In the majority of locations around the country gas is far cheaper than electricity and therefore it makes financial sense to use a gas powered unit. Although having said this it does not mean that an electric unit will not be right for you. In fact the most common situation where an electric model would be viable would be if you live alone, or perhaps with 1 other person in a small apartment. However in a high demand household it would be unlikely.
TANKLESS GAS WATER HEATERS
Gas units have many advantages. Without a doubt though their main advantages lie in their power and economic viability. Gas models are usually very powerful and capable of high volume output and flow rates. If you have a large family and live in a large household the chances are that you would require a gas water heater to support your high demand.
As mentioned above they are more economically viable due to the cheap price of gas compared to electricity. However their main drawback is probably the fact they require ventilation. Due to burning a fossil fuel they release emissions which must be vented. This means when installing one of these units in your home you must be aware that you will require access to the exterior of the building for an associated ventilation system.
This was a broad overview of both of the main types of unit and should steer you in the right direction. However to make sure you make the correct purchasing decision there are many other factors which must be taken into consideration. We will cover these in the next post to make sure you have all the information you need to choose the best Tankless Water Heater for you.