Code-compliant water heater installed by Rare Breed Plumbing in Utah

Gas vs Electric Water Heaters

By Court Lundberg

If you’re in the market for a new water heater in Utah, then you’re probably trying to figure out which type will be best for your home. Two common types of water heaters are gas and electric, and each has its pros and cons. Here’s what you should know when shopping for water heaters.

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What’s the Difference Between Gas and Electric Water Heaters?

Gas water heaters use gas-powered burners to heat the water that’s stored in a large tank. Electric water heaters use electric coils to heat the water in the tank and are powered with energy from your property’s electrical system.

Gas Water Heater Pro: Larger Tank Capacity

Large families may want to consider having a gas water heater installed in their homes to have plenty of hot water at their disposal. Gas water heaters typically come in larger tank sizes than their electric counterparts, and they recover faster, so a big household is less likely to run out mid-shower.

Gas Water Heater Pro: Faster Heating and Recovery Times

Gas water heaters can heat water more quickly than electric water heaters. If having lots of hot water available almost immediately is important to you, then consider a gas water heater.

Gas Water Heater Con: Significant Installation Requirements

To safely install and operate a gas water heater, you’ll need to have multiple components installed. Your new gas water heater will require a gas water hookup as well as sufficient ventilation to make sure that carbon monoxide doesn’t build up in your interior. A skilled plumber can install a gas water heater for you and make sure the venting and the gas line are done to code.

Gas Water Heater Con: Standby Heat Loss

A gas tank heater keeps an entire tank hot around the clock, whether anyone is using it or not, so it burns gas just to hold that temperature while you are at work or asleep. That is standby loss, and an electric tank has the same problem. The trade-off is that natural gas usually costs less per unit of heat here, so a gas tank often costs less to run month to month even though it is losing heat the same way. If standby loss is what bothers you, tankless is the answer, not electric.

Electric Water Heater Con: Fewer Practical Tankless Options

Both gas and electric come in tanked and tankless versions. Tanked water heaters store water in bulk in a large tank. Tankless units are much smaller and heat the water as it passes through, giving you hot water on demand.

On paper that looks like a tie. In practice, gas is the standard tankless install and electric is the exception. An electric tankless unit big enough to keep up with a Utah house in winter, when the incoming water is genuinely cold, pulls so much amperage that most homes need a panel upgrade and new circuits before it will even run. Gas tankless carries that load without rewiring the house. That is why nearly every tankless we put in is gas. If you want tankless, gas is usually the realistic path.

Electric Water Heater Pro: Safe and Clean Operation

Water heaters running on electricity don’t burn gas, so you don’t have to worry about gas leaks or carbon monoxide exposure. You also don’t have to install special ventilation systems to handle excess fumes that you might encounter with gas water heaters.

Electric Water Heater Con: Slower Heating Rate

Due to their nature, electric water heaters warm water more slowly than their gas counterparts. If the speed at which your water heater warms water doesn’t matter to you, then this won’t be too much of a problem. However, if you frequently need a lot of hot water at your disposal, you might prefer a gas water heater.

Electric Water Heater Con: Requirement for Constant Electrical Connection

An electric water heater requires an electrical connection. If there is a power outage, your electric water heater cannot provide you with hot water. However, gas water heaters can operate during power failures to ensure hot water is available.

Water Heater Installation Across Northern Utah

Rare Breed Plumbing, Heating, and Air installs and services water heaters out of three shops, Sandy, Bountiful, and Orem, covering Salt Lake, Davis, Utah, Weber, Summit, Tooele, Wasatch, Cache, and Box Elder counties. Our plumbers look at your gas line, your venting, your panel, and how much hot water your household actually uses, then give you a straight recommendation and a clear quote before anything starts. We also handle water softeners, reverse osmosis, repiping, and water line repair. You can see everything we do on our plumbing services page.

The office is open Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm, we run emergency service 24/7, and every appointment comes with a 3-hour appointment window so you are not stuck waiting around all day.

FAQ

What is the difference between gas and electric tanks?

Gas heaters use a burner. Electric heaters use coils powered from the house panel.

Why do larger households often pick gas?

Gas tanks usually come in larger sizes and recover faster, so a busy house is less likely to run out mid-shower.

What extra work does a gas heater need?

A gas hookup and ventilation so carbon monoxide does not build up indoors. The venting and the gas line have to be done to code.

Will an electric heater work in a power outage?

No. An electric tank needs constant power. A gas tank can still heat during a power failure. If standby loss is the worry, this article points to tankless, not to switching fuel.

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