When you’re a homeowner, many of your purchasing choices are a matter of preference. Paint or wallpaper? Wood or composite decking? Is it worth getting an oven with a built-in air fryer?
Water heaters aren’t as much of a gray area. You want a system that keeps your showers hot and doesn’t send your energy bills through the roof. But that doesn’t mean that choosing a water heater is an easy task. There are a lot of options out there, and they aren’t equally desirable!
Hot water generation makes up almost 20 percent of the average home’s energy budget. When deciding between an electric and propane water heater, it’s crucial to compare their efficiency, affordability, and greenness.
There’s no contest here. Propane water heaters produce double the water output of an electric water heater. The reason is that propane generates much more heat than electricity. And this makes a big difference when your talk about hot water. Propane water heaters offer more reliably warm showers and shorter waits for the tap to heat up.
If you opt for a propane tankless water heater, you can enjoy virtually unlimited hot water on demand, even if you’re running the dishwasher and shower simultaneously!
The question of affordability is more nuanced. The upfront cost of an electric water heater (typically $500 at the low end) is generally less than that of a propane water heater (typically $700 at the low end).
But these upfront costs can be deceiving.
On average, propane water heaters require about 30 percent less energy to operate than electric water heaters. You see immediate energy savings by going with a propane-fired product.
A study by the Propane Education and Research Council (PERC) found that a typical 2,400-square-foot home would spend $355 less each year on energy using a propane water heater instead of going electric. After only one year, you could more than make up for the upfront price difference.
This one might surprise you. Many people believe that an electric water heater is more eco-friendly, but the facts don’t align with that.
Even though an electric appliance won’t emit greenhouse gases, the electricity powering it does. A large portion of U.S. electricity comes from natural gas and coal. Last year, 32 percent of American carbon emissions came from electricity generation.
Propane is not a greenhouse gas. It’s methane free and contains virtually no particulate matter, a known carcinogen. It releases significantly less carbon dioxide than other energy sources. Homes with propane-fueled furnaces emit up to 50 percent less nitrogen oxide and 82 percent less sulfur oxide than electric furnaces.
Is your home’s water heater struggling? Please don’t wait for it to fail! Arrange an appointment with Poore’s Propane and Oil to discuss a new water heater installation.
Our expert technicians can help you find a product that guarantees comfort and lowers your fuel bills. Plus, our world-class propane delivery team can make sure you always have the fuel you need.
Drop us a line to set up an appointment. We’ll be happy to help.
