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After deciding in favor of tankless water heaters, the next question you will be confronted with is about whether to go for gas or electric tankless models. This question, however, is not that easy to answer, considering that both options have their own advantages and disadvantages. The correctness of your choice, nevertheless, boils down to which type of household you have, the weather in your area, and your preferred type of tankless models.
Gas vs Electric: Their Disadvantages and Advantages
As mentioned above, each option has its own pros and cons, and thus, the correctness of your choice would surely depend on your own preference. But before you decide on which is better, you should at least consider the advantages and disadvantages of each of these two options:
1. Higher Capacity of Gas Heaters
This point is worth looking at. At the onset, it is good to note that gas water heaters may have a higher capacity than that of electric water heaters. The majority of gas water heaters are capable of delivering 8 GPM (8 gallons per minute) of hot water. With this capacity, gas water heaters can readily supply the needs for hot water of an average household.
On the other hand, electric water heaters could supply up to 8 gallons of hot water in areas with a warm climate, but in cold climate areas, it can supply up to 3.5 GPM of hot water. The abovementioned discrepancy in capacity would surely lead you to surmise that gas-powered tankless water heaters are better when it comes to capacity.
2. The Gas Water Heater is More Expensive and More Costly to Install!
This disadvantage concomitant with the gas water heater is not as it appears to be. This is because although the gas water heaters tend to be more expensive and is more costly to install, these extra installation costs are quickly balanced out by the low monthly operating costs of gas water heaters. Moreover, the amount that you can save in the long run depends on whether you have chosen propane or natural gas-powered water heater.
You can save however up to 15% of your operating cost if you opt for a gas-powered water heater. On average, the price of a gas water heater ranges from $1,000 to $1,200. The price of electric water heaters, on the other hand, ranges from $500 to $700. So, if you have enough amount of money to shell out for a gas water heater, it is better to go for a gas water heater. But if you have a limited budget, you can go for an electric water heater, but you would surely end up spending higher for your monthly operating costs.
3. Gas Heaters Carry Higher Risks!
Your choice of a good tankless water heater should come with less risk. What I mean is that its use should not be fraught with many risks. The gas heaters pose a higher level of risk than that of the electric water heater. If the pipe of the gas heater incurs any damage, it could cause a dangerous gas leak that may go unnoticed. Yet, it may put you and your family at risk of noxious gas poisoning. At worse, it may cause an explosion. Thus, you should carefully consider the risk aspect when choosing between a gas water heater and an electric water heater.
4. The Installation of Gas Water Heater is Expensive!
When it comes to the cost of installation, the electric water heater is easier to install and is less costly than that of the gas water heater. Gas water heater’s installation, of course, is more costly if you still don’t have a gas line inside your home. But if you have one, you may still spend for a wider diameter line to complement the higher fuel needs of your gas water heater.
In a way, the installation of a gas water heater is more complicated than that of the electric water heater. And you need to carefully consider this apparent disadvantage of a gas water heater over the electric water heater.
5. The Electric Water Heater Requires Less Installation Space!
The gas water heater requires more installation space. On the other hand, the electric water heater, aside from being easy to install, also requires less space for installation. Moreover, it doesn’t leave huge footprints. Gas electric heater, on the other hand, requires proper venting, and this takes more space. The electric water heater, however, can easily fit into a little space on the wall or inside the closet. Thus, if you have cramped space at home, you might as well consider this advantage of the electric water heater.
6. If the supply of gas runs out, your household also runs out of the supply of hot water.
This turnout of an event is possible. There are many instances in which gas containers ran out of gas. If the gas supply runs out, your supply of hot water immediately runs out likewise. There are places, especially in the rural areas wherein gas is usually delivered to homes through safety containers. If you live in such a place, chances are, you may run out of gas, and eventually run out of hot water supply. If your home, however, is supplied with gas through a gas pipeline, running out of gas is a non-issue for you.
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This content is sponsored by Lourdes Collins.
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