What’s The Best Type of Fuel for a Water Heater?

Comparing gas, electric, hybrid, and solar water heaters

When shopping for a new water heater, there are many variables to consider. For example, you will definitely want to think about the capacity of the unit to make sure it will be able to supply enough hot water for your household’s needs. And of course you’ll want to think about the sticker price and the potential costs of operation.

With so much to consider, coming to a decision can be really challenging. One way to help yourself out is to narrow the field from the start by deciding which type of fuel or power source you want to heat your hot water.

The main possibilities are:

Gas

Gas water heaters are probably the most common type of conventional water heater used in America. Your basic models are inexpensive and easy to install. Unfortunately, they are not the most energy-efficient. One problem is that they sometimes use a standing pilot light, which consumes fuel even when the water in the storage tank doesn’t actually need to be heated.

There are some high-efficiency gas water heaters out there, such as the condensing gas water heater. This type of heater actually uses the exhaust gases that other models waste to heat water. The result is efficiency of up to 96 percent, but you will pay up to 5 times more on the purchase price.

Electric

Conventional electric water heaters are quite affordable and they have low initial installation costs because you don’t have to worry about gas lines or venting. Unfortunately, they typically cost more to operate than a gas water heater, mainly because electricity tends to be more expensive than gas. Another issue is that electric units heat water more slowly than gas units, which increases the chances of running out of hot water at times.

Hybrid

Hybrid water heaters are relatively rare, but they are actually a very good option for warm climates like southern California. These water heaters use a heat pump to basically suck heat out of the surrounding air and transfer it to the water in the storage tank. They have electric heating elements that can switch on as needed to supplement the heat pump. This type of water heater is very energy-efficient and has extremely low operating costs. However, it has a high sticker price.

Solar

If you enjoy helping the environment and saving money, a solar water heater is ideal. These water heaters consist of a solar collector to capture the totally free thermal energy of the sun and an insulated storage tank to keep the heated water ready until you need to use it. Solar water heaters do require more of an upfront investment than a traditional gas or electric water heater, but they will more than pay for themselves in energy savings and a longer service life.