Are you shopping for a new water heater? Are you comparing gas and electric types, and deciding which will be most efficient over the life of the appliance? If you are, there are several important points to consider when comparison shopping. Here are a few things to think about:
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Electric Water Heaters:
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1. Plus – Lower purchase price
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2. Plus – Lower installation price, if converting from electric to gas is required.
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3. Plus – No flame is involved, a positive safety factor.
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4. Minus – Future energy prices make make electric model
more costly to operate.
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5. Minus – Electric water heaters may be not as fast in response time as gas models.
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Gas Water Heaters:
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1. Plus – Gas water heaters have a fast recovery time.
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2. Plus – Energy use over time is likely less than electric models.
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3. Plus – Natural gas may be a more favorable environmental choice.
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4. Minus – Gas water heater may cost more to purchase and install.
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5. Minus – Though modern appliances have electric ignition and enclosed combustion chambers, the flame is a concern for some.
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There are good reasons for choosing each type, gas or electric. No matter which you choose, however, please have your new water heater installed by a qualified professional. For safety as well as meeting local zoning requirement, a licensed expert is needed to install your water heater safely and insure safe and efficient delivery of hot water to meet your needs.