Electric Vs. Propane Water Heaters

When It Comes to Efficiency, Here’s How They Compare

Did you ever stop to think that your water heater is one of the hardest working pieces of equipment in your home? Since heating water accounts for close to 20% of your energy costs—and that’s year-round, not seasonal—finding an efficient model is one of the most important factors in your choice. But in addition to efficiency, you need to consider what’s powering that equipment. Some forms of energy are more efficient than others when it comes to heating water.

Electric Water Heaters

The main problem with an electric water heater is slow recovery time. Recovery time is the time it takes to reheat water after the tank is depleted. That can mean not everyone will get a hot shower on busy mornings, and you may have to stagger chores like laundry and dishes.

Recovery time can be annoying and inconvenient, but the energy required to reheat the tank can really drive up your electric bill. That’s a lot more than an inconvenience.

Propane Water Heaters

Propane delivers a lot of benefits when it comes to heating water. It generates more Btus than an equivalent amount of electricity, so you need much less propane to produce the same amount of heat or energy. In other words, propane water heaters generate much more hot water at a cheaper cost per gallon. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, homes that heat water with propane rather than electricity can see average annual savings of $174.

And with propane, you can choose from more types of water heaters without sacrificing efficiency.

A high-efficiency tank-type water heater is a more efficient version of the classic storage tank type. They use 10% to 20% less energy than their less-efficient cousins, which translates to as much as $140 in savings annually.

For even more efficiency, consider a high-efficiency tankless style. Tankless propane water heaters (also known as demand water heaters) instantly heat water when you need it, rather than keeping a large tank hot all the time. The result is virtually unlimited hot water.

While tankless models can be more expensive, all that efficiency means you’ll lower your energy costs by as much as 40%. Most tankless units are about the size of a suitcase, and they can also be wall-mounted, which means a tankless water heater can be placed just about anywhere in the house, including closets and crawl spaces. Finally, they are a good investment. The primary culprit in the limited lifespan of a conventional water heater is the corrosive water stored in its tank. Because it doesn’t store water, a tankless water heater will last 18 to 20 years.

If you’re powering your water heater with propane, you can also run a range of other appliances with propane: washing machines, dryers, dishwashers—as well as gas fireplaces, space heaters, and more.

The Bottom Line

Your water heater works hard for you. The typical American household uses between 60 and 65 gallons of hot water a day for bathing and showering, washing dishes, laundry, cleaning, and other tasks. That’s a lot of hot water—and a lot of energy. Why not switch to a high-efficiency tankless water heater and enjoy all the hot water you need, without driving up your energy costs? The pros at Admiral have the experience and knowledge to help you upgrade to a tankless system so you can start enjoying long hot showers instead of getting boiled up over energy costs.

Contact us for more information today.