New York Water Heater: Gas vs. Electric

When your New York water heater goes, you’ll want to have your technician provide the best possible option for replacement. There are many options available on the market today and one of the big questions for any appliance is, “Gas or electric?” Knowing the difference, the benefits and drawbacks of each, as well as how they work, is key to understanding what will be best for your home. Here’s a look at gas vs. electric water heater solutions, how the two compare and how ServiceWhale New York can help you choose the best.

Gas Vs. Electric Water Heater

The first thing to understand is the difference between the gas water heater and the electric water heater. A gas heater burns natural gas to heat water, while an electric heater uses electric coils, usually made from copper. Each form of heating has its benefits and drawbacks, and you need to choose which one will work best for your New York home.

Gas Water Heaters

Gas water heaters are not as energy efficient as electric, and use more fuel to heat water. However, they recover much faster (re-heat water after use), so if you have a large family that will be using a lot of hot water, a gas heater may be a good option. Gas heaters will also function in a power outage, where electric ones won’t. Generally, across the U.S. about 60% of water heaters in use are of the gas variety. The down side is that gas heaters lose heat faster, requiring them to constantly use energy to keep water warm.

Electric Heaters

Electric heaters are more efficient than gas heaters, using less energy to heat a like amount of water. They also don’t use as much in the way of limited natural resources. However, electricity can be more expensive than gas to run overall. The lifespan of an electric heater is around 13 years, roughly the same as a gas heater.

Hookups

Another factor for many New York home owners is the kind of hookups they have in their home. If you don’t have hookups for gas, electricity may be your only option. On the other hand, if you have gas lines but want an electric heater, it is often a small matter for a qualified electrician or Service Whale technician to run the right kind of electrical line to handle your new electric water heater.

Deciding What’s Best

In the end, you will need to weigh all the options and decide which is the best option for your New York home. A qualified Service Whale technician can help with this. We bring years of experience to the table and will always give you the best options so you can make the most educated choice. Take some time to read about the plumbing services we offer, and get in touch with us today for more information or to schedule an appointment with your contractor today.