When it comes to picking the type of water heater for your home, many Pittsburgh plumbers agree that there are only a couple options that work well for most families: electric or gas. But which one would work best for your particular situation and your household's needs? Ultimately, it's a choice your family needs to make. Here's a guide to help you decide.
Water Heater Smackdown: Electric vs. Gas
Electric
An electric water heater doesn't require ventilation the way a gas heater does. Because they don't heat through combustion, you can fit one in a smaller area. An electric heater can also be tied into a timer, allowing it to be turned off entirely during particular points in the day to lower energy consumption. If you don't already have gas lines and ventilation installed, staying with an electric water heater can be more cost-effective. If you have a small family or don't have a lot of individuals using hot water at the same ti
me, an electric water heater can work quite well, despite its longer recovery time. As a combustion technology, gas water heaters do produce emissions, but depending on whether your electricity comes from wind, nuclear, hydro, natural gas or coal, so can electric.
Gas
If you regularly find yourself getting a cold shower once your other family members have finished up, you'll want to seriously consider a gas water heater. Why? It has a recovery rate of 50 gallons per hour, so it does a much better job of keeping up with demand in a busy household. A gas water heater costs less to operate and heats water faster than electric models because it transfers heat to the water more effectively. If you have a pilot light or electrode light gas water heater, it can provide hot water even when the electricity is out. They don't have as many problems with hard water as electric units because hard water can cause tank corrosion and potential damage from leaks.
As you can see, there are benefits and drawbacks to both types of water heaters. If you still have questions or are concerned about which type would work best for your situation, please feel free to contact us for more information. Learn why Stahl Plumbing is the plumber Pittsburgh homeowners turn to for quality work and exceptional customer service today.