I'm faced with a decision about replacing my 16-year-old gas water heater. There are two adults and two teenagers in my household, and I'm considering a few options: should I go with an electric tank water heater, a gas tank water heater, an electric tankless model, or a gas tankless? I have a good supply of gas and enough electrical capacity (200 amp service) to support any of these choices. Any advice?
3 Answers
I'd recommend going with a gas tankless! I had a 30-year-old gas tank model that was too small for my family's needs. I swapped it out for a gas tankless, which was easy to install, and now we never have to worry about running out of hot water. Plus, I got rid of the old tank for free on marketplace within an hour!
If you're not having any issues with hot water access, I'd just stick with a new gas tank heater. They tend to be reliable and straightforward, plus it's what you're used to. Just remember, a 16-year lifespan is pretty typical for those, so it's definitely time for an upgrade!
You might want to think twice about electric options; they'll be more expensive in the long run. If you go for gas tankless, just make sure your gas line is big enough. Honestly, a hybrid electric heater could be a good way to go too, plus you might get some rebates to help with costs!
That's a good point. Also, if you're in an area prone to power outages like during storms, gas tank systems keep working while tankless might not.
That sounds promising! I definitely don’t want to be coordinating showers with the kids.