I would like an estimate to replace my hot water heater (gas) with a tankless water heater. House if 3,000 sq ft., 2 story, three full bathrooms one half-bath.
Fay H
Looking for a water heater that will allow enough hot water for four people to take a shower.
Mark L
Gas water heaters are considered to be one of the most energy efficient of all water heating technologies. Besides, electric heaters gas water heaters are the most commonly used heating method in the country. A comparison between gas vs. electric water heaters clearly indicates that gas water heaters are the winner. It not only costs less to heat water through gas, but the heating time is also greatly reduced. The energy efficiency of a gas water heater in the long run is much greater, although the maximum energy efficiency of most gas water heater models is up to 85% while that of electric models can be up to 98%.
Gas water heaters however involve higher installation costs, and a higher cost of the unit. A gas water heater can cost more than $1000, while an electric model can cost between $500 and $700. Even with these high installation costs, you can make up the cost of your gas water heater in less than a year. Newer federal energy standards now require gas water heaters to be at least 10% more energy efficient than before. To meet these standards, companies have added greater amount of insulation to the heaters, making them up to 4" thicker. This might pose a problem if you want to install your gas water heater in a confined space.