Question:
I think natural gas or propane water heaters are much nicer to live with. They recover much more quickly. In fact, mine can produce luke-warm water CONTINUOUSLY (I discovered this while scrubbing out my shower). The typical gas heater is 40Kbtu/hr. This is somewhat over 10 kilowatts. Most electic heaters have two 5 kw elements, but only one runs at a time.
Response:
> I think natural gas or propane water heaters are much nicer to > live with. They recover much more quickly. In fact, mine can > produce luke-warm water CONTINUOUSLY (I discovered this while > scrubbing out my shower). The typical gas heater is 40Kbtu/hr. > This is somewhat over 10 kilowatts. Most electic heaters have > two 5 kw elements, but only one runs at a time.
An excellent description/comparison of water heaters. It is worth noting that the 40,000 BTU/Hr figure for a typical gas water heater is the heat produced by the burner, but that 40 to 50 percent of this heat goes out the flue. Even so, the water receives over 20,000 BTU/Hr which far exceeds the heat delivered by a 4500 Watt electric element (~15,000 BTU/Hr). As several folks have already mentioned, and I agree with totally, a gas water heater is FAR nicer to live with. The quicker recovery time is especially nice if you have a large family. One thing I haven’t seen mentioned yet is the nasty habit of electric water heaters to burn out their bottom heating element. If the tank is not drained regularly (at least every other year), sediment accumulates in the bottom, eventually becoming deep enough to cover the bottom heating element. When the bottom element becomes covered, it burns out. An electric water heater with only the top element has *INCREDIBLY BAD* recovery time!!! — Roger.
Response:
This isn’t true. Check the rates for natural gas, propane, and electric where you live. Compare Btu’s to Btu’s. For instance, where I live, Electric is cheaper, but I have a natural gas heater because of the quick recovery time, and it’s what came with the house. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >this is turtle. >if your name is howard hughes use electric , but if you have to work for a >living get natural gas or butane hot water tank. >TURTLE >|Would like to change my electric water heater, looking for something >|more energy effency, What the cost of Propane Heating vs Electric, Any >|Idea? >| >|Thank >| >|
Response:
Ditto! Oil is the way to go. I don’t think you can heat water any cheaper than oil. You’ll have to leave your first born male to pay for the unit though. They’re way expensive up front! #> Would like to change my electric water heater, looking for something #> more energy effency, What the cost of Propane Heating vs Electric, Any #> Idea? #> #> Thank #> #> #> # #Generally speaking, LP (propane) gas is less expensive that electricity. # #Here is a guideline for water heaters that I use: # #Single person, or couple that doesn’t need any real hot water demands, #electric is fine # #Couple that likes longer showers, has a dishwasher, and a couple of #kiddos- then LP gas would be a better heater, oil is also an option. # #Large family, with a large demand for HW, ie teenage girls ( how do I #know this 
) then oil-fired will give you an almost constant supply of #hot water. It has the best recovery of all. # #I didn’t cover instant LP gas water heaters, because they are expensive, #and reliability is inconsistant, as is parts availability. I usually #tend to discourage people from using them. # #Lp gas heaters are probably the most versatile, because you can install #them virtualy anywhere, even if you don’t have a chimney, and if you have #a mobile home, you can get sealed-combustion units that are approved for #that type of housing. Of course, a power-vented unit is more expensive, #as is sealed-combustion units, but if you need the higher recovery rate #and savings that an LP gas water heater provides, it is well worth the #investment. # #I have a 30 gallon oil-fired water heater in my basement, and when it #dies, I will pop another oil fired rig in there. # #If you heat with a boiler, investigate indirect-fired water heaters, as #they are the most efficient way to heat hot water. # #Be careful about plumbing a LP gas water heater in series with a domestic #coil, as the water coming off the coil may be hot enought to melt the ECO #(energy cut-off), which will mean replacing the gas control. The ECO is a #safety feature which prevents a bad thermostatic control from overheating #the water heater. # #Or….you can do as our fore-fathers did…..have cold water in the #winter, warm in the summer ! #
Response:
>An electric water heater with only the top element has *INCREDIBLY BAD* >recovery time!!!
Actually, it has excellent recovery time. Unfortunately, it only recovers the top eight gallons or so. An electric water heater element in clean, non-corrosive, softened water should last at least five years, with twenty years possible. The problem comes when the water is not so clean and sediment is allowed to pile up. The same conditions that are hard on electric heater elements are hard on gas water heater heat exchangers. Dan Hicks Hey!! My advice is free — take it for what it’s worth! http://www.millcomm.com/~danhicks
Response:
this is turtle. if your name is howard hughes use electric , but if you have to work for a living get natural gas or butane hot water tank. TURTLE
|Would like to change my electric water heater, looking for something |more energy effency, What the cost of Propane Heating vs Electric, Any |Idea? | |Thank | |
Response:
I consider the electric water heaters to be the most expensive to operate, followed by LP and then natural gas. An alternative might be to have a booster coil added to your gas furnace to preheat incoming water or for a heat pump to have a water heating kit added. In converting to ANY other form, however, you need to consider how long you will be living in the home and what the cost of the conversion will be. Then, a competent HVAC person or your gas/electric company could compute whether there is any real savings with a switch. Electric water heaters can fit in virtually anywhere, since they don’t need a vent. LP and natural gas versions need access to a chimney or to be placed where they can vent fumes outdoors. In addition, they need a decent source of supply air as well. When a gas heater passes away, it is usually trashed. An electric heater can be rebuilt using a couple of new elements (about $10 each) and a couple of thermostats (about $8 each) and a new TP valve (about $7). This also saves on a disposal fee for the tank and the cost/hassle of its disconnecting and reconnecting to the plumbing lines. — Tom Gauldin, Raleigh NC -NetMeeting ils.four11.com, Live Birdfeeder Action ICQ 7022136 fax (919) 676-1404 ftp://ftp.mindspring.com/pub/users/scoundrl/home.htm Here’s to the land of the Longleaf Pine, The Summerland, where the sun doth shine, Where the weak grow strong, and the strong grow great, Here’s to Downhome, the Old North State.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Would like to change my electric water heater, looking for something >more energy effency, What the cost of Propane Heating vs Electric, Any >Idea? >Thank
Response:
> Would like to change my electric water heater, looking for something > more energy effency, What the cost of Propane Heating vs Electric, Any > Idea? > Thank
Generally speaking, LP (propane) gas is less expensive that electricity. Here is a guideline for water heaters that I use: Single person, or couple that doesn’t need any real hot water demands, electric is fine Couple that likes longer showers, has a dishwasher, and a couple of kiddos- then LP gas would be a better heater, oil is also an option. Large family, with a large demand for HW, ie teenage girls ( how do I know this ) then oil-fired will give you an almost constant supply of hot water. It has the best recovery of all. I didn’t cover instant LP gas water heaters, because they are expensive, and reliability is inconsistant, as is parts availability. I usually tend to discourage people from using them. Lp gas heaters are probably the most versatile, because you can install them virtualy anywhere, even if you don’t have a chimney, and if you have a mobile home, you can get sealed-combustion units that are approved for that type of housing. Of course, a power-vented unit is more expensive, as is sealed-combustion units, but if you need the higher recovery rate and savings that an LP gas water heater provides, it is well worth the investment. I have a 30 gallon oil-fired water heater in my basement, and when it dies, I will pop another oil fired rig in there. If you heat with a boiler, investigate indirect-fired water heaters, as they are the most efficient way to heat hot water. Be careful about plumbing a LP gas water heater in series with a domestic coil, as the water coming off the coil may be hot enought to melt the ECO (energy cut-off), which will mean replacing the gas control. The ECO is a safety feature which prevents a bad thermostatic control from overheating the water heater. Or….you can do as our fore-fathers did…..have cold water in the winter, warm in the summer ! — Bill Limoges Hearthside Heating Services Claremont, NH trash the gs
Response:
>Would like to change my electric water heater, looking for something >more energy effency, What the cost of Propane Heating vs Electric, Any >Idea? >Thank
I’ve got electric right now, and when the tank goes (I expect soon), I’ll switch to gas and save about half, maybe 2/3, of my current cost, and have more hot water more quickly. I’ve been in situations the past 15-20 years, where I’ve had electric and I’ve hated it, after 20+ years with gas. Charlie Self
Response:
> Would like to change my electric water heater, looking for something > more energy effency, What the cost of Propane Heating vs Electric, Any > Idea?
Depends on where you live but generally propane, although more expensive than natural gas, will be cheaper than electricity. You will have to compare the price or each and the btu’s of each in order to know for sure. Don, retired in Tracy, Calif.
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