The following is a list of water heater options by fuel or energy source:. If you have more than one fuel type available in your area, it's a good idea to compare fuel costs, especially if you're building a new home. Even if you're replacing a water heater, you may find that you'll save more money in the long run if you use a different fuel or energy source.
However, if you are converting from one fuel type to another, there are other cost considerations, such as adding a breaker or running a gas line to the water heater and venting it outside. Contact your utility for current fuel costs or rates. The type of water heater you choose will also affect your water heating costs.
One type of water heater may use a fuel type more efficiently than another type of water heater. For example, an electric heat pump water heater typically is more energy efficient than an electric conventional storage water heater.
Also, an electric heat pump water heater might have lower energy costs than a gas-fired conventional storage water heater, even though local natural gas costs might be lower than the electricity rates. In this episode, we break down the differences between water heaters and why you might want to consider a heat pump water heater.
Megan Hall: Welcome to Possibly, where we take on huge problems like the future of our planet and break them down into small questions with unexpected answers. Are there more efficient water heaters out there that are worth the price? Welcome, Max and Fatima! Max Kozlov: Water heaters are actually pretty big energy hogs.
Max Kozlov: Pretty simply. Most conventional ones heat water by burning fossil fuels — either oil or natural gas — and store that hot water in a tank until you need it.
Some use electricity to do the heating. And all that energy use means higher greenhouse gas emissions. Max Kozlov: Again, it depends on the water heater and the source of your energy, but the average gallon electric water heater releases nearly forty-five hundred pounds of carbon dioxide each year.
Fatima Husain: Yes! Some of the most popular alternatives are tankless and heat pump water heaters. Instead, the heater warms that water in real time and only when you need it. You can think of these appliances as like reverse refrigerators. A small percentage of water heaters burn propane LP , oil, or kerosene.
And some use wood heat or solar collectors to heat water. If natural gas is available, your next water heater should be gas-fueled. Gas is both cheaper and much faster at heating a tankful of water. According to data provided by the Department of Energy www. Obviously, these amounts vary with local energy prices and change over time, but in the relative world of energy, natural gas is by far the cheapest, most convenient fuel.
Some water heaters use fuel more efficiently than others. An electric heat pump water heater, for example, typically is more efficient than a conventional storage water heater and, as a result, might have lower annual energy costs than a natural gas water heater because of its high efficiency. On the label, check the energy factor EF. This indicates how well the unit converts its fuel to heat. The higher the EF number, the more efficiently the water heater uses its energy. Electric water heaters have EF numbers between 0.
Although electric units may use their fuel more efficiently, in most regions electricity is much more expensive than gas. Get Free Bids Now! Another label on the water heater should reveal its first-hour rating FHR number—this indicates how much hot water the heater can supply per hour at peak usage. The minimum FHR to select for your home will depend on the number of bathrooms and residents it has.
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