If you live on a street that doesn’t have natural gas service, chances are you have an electric water heater. Not that that’s your only choice, but most people narrower their selection to gas vs. electric when both options are available.
But let’s say you do have that choice, that you’ve been a gas water heater devotee forever, but now you’re not so sure. Especially with your aging water heater and the strong likelihood that you’re going to need to replace it sooner than later.
Here are the primary reasons that electric water heaters are gaining in popularity throughout Southern Indiana:
- About the same cost as gas, unless your house isn’t already vented for a gas water heater. In that case, there would be a lower installation cost with an electric unit.
- Electric water heaters last longer. That’s because they generate far less heat than gas models, thus sparing them undo wear and tear.
- Electric units can free up valuable storage space. Gas water heaters must be vented on all sides by up to 18”, whereas an electric water heater can be stored even in a tight-fitting closet.
- There are no greenhouse emissions from electric water heaters. On the other hand, and to be fair to gas, oil is used in electricity generating power plants, so in terms of environmental friendliness, we’ll have to call this one a wash.
Are there overwhelming reasons to choose electric over gas; again, assuming you have that choice? Not really. But it’s always nice to have a choice, don’t you think?
If you’re looking for a new water heater and want to make sure you choose exactly the right one for your home and budget, contact Messmer Mechanical today. We’ll be happy to answer all your questions and provide you with more than one option to choose from.