Heating the water in your home is one of the biggest monthly expenses that you will have. If you don’t want to throw your money away, you need to make sure that you have the right water heater. By learning about gas hot water heaters, you may discover that they’re perfect for you.
How do they work?
Gas hot water heaters work very similarly to the way electric ones do – except they use a gas burner instead of electric heating elements. Gas hot water heaters can be powered by either natural gas or propane.
In addition to their heating elements, gas water heaters have something else that’s a little different from their electric counterparts – their space issues. A gas water heater will take up a little more space than an electric unit because it needs room for ventilation and flu piping.
Gas hot water heaters come with the same options as their electric counterparts; you can choose between traditional tank and newer tankless varieties.
If your gas water heater has a tank, then the burner will heat up all of the water in the tank, then disperse it out through your pipes whenever you need it. If you have a tankless model, you will have a gas burner that heats up water as it passes through your pipes – instead of heating up an entire tank’s worth of water.
In addition to their heating elements, gas water heaters have something else that’s a little different from their electric counterparts – their space issues. A gas water heater will take up a little more space than an electric unit because it needs room for ventilation and flu piping.
How much do they cost?
Gas hot water heater prices tend to be a little higher. However, they can save you money in the long run. Depending on the cost of natural gas or propane in your area, using gas is typically much cheaper than using electricity. And considering that about 25% of your energy costs are related to heating up water, you should do everything you can to cut costs!
So, what do the numbers look like?
On average, you can expect to pay about $850 for a typical gas water heater, while a standard electric water heater will cost you about $650. Plus, gas water heaters cost a little bit more to install – so that’s another expense you’ll have to consider right off the bat.
What are the top brands?
According to gas hot water heater reviews, each model differs dramatically. The kind of performance you can expect will depend on the manufacturer and the energy your unit uses.
And, of course, you will also have to take a look at the warranty your prospective heater comes with. Good ones will come with at least a six-year warranty because that’s how long anodes typically last – or, the metal rods in your tank that keep rust from forming.
If you are looking for machines that get the very best gas hot water heater reviews across the board, go with one of these:
1. Rheem gas hot water heaters
On top of quality craftsmanship, Rheem offers variety. With Rheem gas hot water heaters, you get more than a dozen residential tank models, more than a dozen commercial tank models, and even a handful of tankless models to choose from.
2. Whirlpool gas hot water heaters
Like Rheem, Whirlpool offers a variety of well-made machines. The company offers dozens of gas water heaters in a variety of sizes – powered by either propane or natural gas.