Differences In Electric Water Heaters

But electricity costs more per month than the same amount of energy from natural gas.

Differences in electric water heaters.

Electric water heaters typically have one 5 500 watt or two 4 500 watt elements. This means that electricity is only used to move heat from the ground or air to the water instead of the alternative where electricity is used to generate heat. Low density elements have more surface area than high density elements with comparable wattage. Heat pump water heaters can use up to 60 percent less electricity than traditional styles of water heaters.

Two lower kilowatt elements will heat much faster than one higher wattage element. This is often the unseen cost of a water heater since very few people calculate it as part of the purchase price. Of the two types of hot water heaters electric costs less to purchase but costs more to run over time. Electric water heaters are usually simpler to install than gas heaters since they don t need to be vented and they don t need a gas connection.

Additionally electric heaters don t suffer heat losses due to venting. When you re in the marketing for a new heater 40 and 50 gallon water heater varieties are the most popular. To install a gas water heater it will cost between 1 000 and 3 000 whereas an electric water heater will cost 620 to 1 020 if you hire a professional to do it. By comparison a 1 500 watt element with only 7 5 square inches of surface area would be a higher density element conducting 200 watts per square inch.

They also tend to be easier to install so installation costs may also be less. For this reason they are generally a little less expensive to manufacture than gas water heaters. On average electric water heaters cost about 100 to 200 less than gas water heaters of the same capacity. Heat from a gas water heater escapes through the venting which can make it less efficient.

Even though gas water heaters are cheaper to operate they don t win in the efficiency category. While you may automatically think that bigger is better when it comes to water heaters you ll have to consider the quality of the tank as well as the energy factor since this will affect your home s warmth and the amount on your electricity bill. Electric water heaters have fewer components overall than gas water heaters. Electric water heaters tend to be more efficient than gas models.

Secondly what size breaker do i need for a 5500 watt water heater.