When it is time to replace a hot water heater, the homeowner has a choice of installing an electric or gas appliance. In most instances, their focus is on the price of the appliance rather than looking at more important issues such as comparing the cost of repairs or determining which is more energy-efficient. Given the fact that most residential structures have a sufficient supply of electricity and natural gas, the competition between the two energy sources oftentimes becomes very one-sided.
When you compare the cost of the energy necessary to generating a gallon of hot water, electricity is more costly than using natural or propane gas. The assumption here is that the homeowner would be better off installing a gas hot water heater rather than an electric one. However, regardless of the type that you decide on, Plumbing Emergency Rescue is skilled at dealing with preventative maintenance and repairs on either one. In either case, there are certain factors that need to be considered.
- Purchase price and operating costs – although gas water heaters cost more than their electric counterparts initially, electricity can cost up to two times as much as natural gas. Overall, the cost of heating water with natural gas is cheaper than it is with electricity.
- Safety issues – gas water heaters can be more dangerous than electric ones since they involve combustion to operate. Under normal conditions, this is not usually a concern. However, the lack of preventative maintenance can change that quickly and the risk of an explosion could increase unless you attend to the situation.
The bottom line is that you will probably be better off selecting an energy-efficient gas water heater. However, you should also consider contacting Plumbing Emergency Rescue so that we can provide you with a preventative maintenance plan and be available should you ever encounter any hot water heater problems in the future.