Electric tankless water heater or gas heater, what is the best option

Posted by Ema Smith on October 12th, 2018

Choosing between the electric tankless water heater or gas heater seems complicated. Especially when you want to meet specific needs in your home. Before deciding it is advisable that you know a little more about each of them. Electric tankless water heaters may be very popular. But gas heaters are not left behind. Let us show you how each of these systems works.

Before deciding between the electric tankless water heater or gas heater, you have to know what are the advantages and disadvantages of each. See which of the two options best suits your needs.

Electric tankless water heater

An electric tankless water heater can save you money in the long term. They are units that are off, without consuming energy, a flow sensor is activated when they detect water circulation and start their heating procedure. This makes possible the elimination of the heat reserve losses that would occur while the hot water waits in the water tank, thus improving also the useful half-life to 20 years compared to the tank water heaters that last around a decade, at best. To get more information about best electric tankless water heater, read more here.

If you choose wisely, an electric tankless water heater can give you an uninterrupted supply of hot water. The electric tankless water heater has the additional advantage that it does not require an air source or an exhaust, and can be installed in small spaces, such as a single-room cupboard or even in a cupboard under your counter from the kitchen. This great maneuverability makes electric tankless water heaters much more efficient and practical for point-of-use applications and makes them safer because there is no risk of sinister faults in the exhaust ventilation system.

Advantages of the electric tankless water heater

• As the name suggests, an electric tankless water heater eliminates the need to store the tank in the garage or closet. An electric tankless water heater is much smaller and is installed on the wall, operating within the plumbing lines of a home.
• Electric tankless water heaters heat the water only when it is time to use it. The water heats up quickly and stops when the demand for the tap ceases. By heating the water quickly, less is wasted.
• Using less water saves energy.
• Electric tankless water heaters are approximately 100 percent more efficient than tank storage models with energy. Instead of using a storage tank, they heat the water directly as it travels through the unit.
• Electric tankless water heaters offer an endless supply of hot water for the home. Heaters with a storage tank, on the other hand, can provide only the amount of hot water that the tank can hold.

Gas water heater

Gas heaters work very easily. Inside it has a series of stoves, through which the gas comes out. After an ignition, those outputs become flames. These flames revive their strength when the tap is turned on completely and the water starts to run. Some pipes that transport water pass through these stoves. As these pipes heat up, the water inside them heats up and goes to the faucets in our house. It does not come out hot from the first moment, you have to let the water run for a few seconds, until the stove has heated the pipe. From there, you can count on unlimited hot water.

Let's now know the advantages and disadvantages of the gas heater:

• It comes in various size and gas type formats, which allows a wide variety to choose a gas that suits your home.
• You can control the gas consumption in your house. Especially, if the system is butane, you can activate it at specific moments.
• It allows you to have unlimited hot water.

But also, in the gas heater we can find some disadvantages:

• When it's very cold, gas consumption goes up. Having so much power begins to spend much more.
• Hot water does not come out from the first moment, but you have to wait a bit for the gas to take effect.
• In extreme temperatures, such as when it is very cold, the gas does not rise in conditions.

Gas heater or electric tankless water heater: best option

Both the gas heater and the electric water heater are good options for the home. But you cannot choose both at the same time. The gas heaters have a totally different system than electric tankless water heaters. But that does not mean that an electric tankless water heater works worse than a gas heater. So, according to what we have known about each of these systems, let's see where the gas heater or the electric tankless water heater is a better option.

Gas heaters: it is perfect for homes that are located in warm areas and where you do not have to abuse hot water. They are recommended for a household of 3-4 people maximum, where hot water is focused on food and the use of sanitary water.

Electric tankless water heaters: it is the best option if you belong to a somewhat cooler area, hot water will be more present in your daily life.

Discovered the differences and characteristics of each one, you are already in a position to choose between the gas heater or electric tankless water heater. It all depends on the needs you have in your home, the monthly consumption and of course the final bill.