Hot water heaters are designed to use various types of fuels. Electricity and gas are the most commonly used fuels to power water heaters. Other fuels used to power water heaters include geothermal energy, fuel oil, and even solar. Natural gas and/or propane are mainly used to power conventional storage water heaters while electricity is mainly used in tankless or demand-type water heaters. When used to power a home water heater, all these different fuels offer various advantages and disadvantages to the consumer. For instance, gas water heaters are more cost-effective than electric water heaters because gas is cheaper than electricity. But on the other hand, gas is a bit more dangerous than electricity because gas leak can cause an explosion in your home. Although solar water heaters are the most efficient models in the market, they pose a functional problem because solar energy is not available or sufficient throughout the year. As you can see, all these water heating fuels have their respective pros and cons. Due to space limitations, today we are only going to look at the advantages and disadvantages of installing an electric water heater at home.
Pros
One of the main advantages of electric water heaters is that they are very convenient. Unlike gas water heaters, which always require a burning pilot light, electric water heaters can be turned on and off without a hassle. And although you can also turn off the pilot light in a gas water heater at your convince, many people find it a bit tedious to keep lighting the pilot light every time you need to use the gas water heater. Another advantage of electric water heaters is that they can be very cost-effective especially of you install the tankless model. Tankless electric water heaters only heat water on demand. As such, they do not suffer from standby heat loss like gas-powered storage tank water heaters. San Diego tankless water heaters are highly energy efficient, which means that they will save you a lot of money in energy bills in the long run. Another pro of electric demand type water heaters is that they never run out of hot water. This is due to the fact that these water heaters heat water continuously and instantaneously.
Electric water heaters are also very versatile when it comes to installation. This is because many homes are connected to the electric grid. Compared to gas water heaters, electric water heaters are easier to install because you do not need gas line connection or piping to install them.
Cons
One major downside of installing an electric water heater is that it’s more expensive to operate than a gas-powered model. Gas is generally cheaper than electricity. This means that you will incur lower energy bills when you install a gas-powered water heater than when you buy an electric water heater.
Tankless electric water heaters have higher purchase and installation costs than gas-powered models. This disadvantage is countered by the fact that tankless electric water heaters are highly efficient and hence cost less over the long run. Another disadvantage of electric water heaters is that you cannot access hot water when the power is out. Electric water heaters also require a lengthy recovery time because electricity heats water slower than gas.
Details regarding San Diego tankless water heaters can be found by clicking here.