If you’ve just bought a home, or you’re thinking about replacing your decade-old water heater, you’ll need to think about what kind of power source to use. A propane water heater works like any model but uses propane instead of electricity. An electric water heater uses high-voltage electricity rods that run through the tank.
Propane water heaters have low operating costs and better recovery rates, while also being more dangerous to install and needing more routine maintenance. Electric water heaters have a low initial cost and are much safer to operate, while also having a high operating cost and long heating and recovery times.
Before you begin your shopping, you should know that propane water heaters and electric water heaters both have their benefits and drawbacks. Fortunately, most homes are equipped to carry either water heater no matter what your decision may be. We’re going to go over some of the benefits and drawbacks of propane and electric water heaters in hopes it helps they make your purchasing decision a little less stressful.
What is a Propane Water Heater?
As you may already know, water heaters are a crucial component of our homes. Water heaters contribute to around 18% of consumers’ total energy consumption. The water heaters that we have today are far more reliable than the water heaters we’ve had in the past.
Propane water heaters have come a long way in their modern design and have great technology that makes them a top choice for consumers. When choosing a propane water heater, you can choose from tank type or tankless. If you’re looking for a tank-type water heater, you won’t have any problems finding one, as these are available almost everywhere.
When installing your tank type propane water heater, you will be required to have plumbing connections and fittings for both the water and propane gas. These heaters also have an internal compartment that will hold the heated water before usage. With these kinds of heaters, you should know that the propane will heat your tank from the bottom, and heat the water inside that is set by your thermostat.
An additional style you can look for is a tankless propane water heater. If you’re looking for a more efficient way of using propane, you may want to keep a special eye on this unit. The tankless propane water heater will only heat water when demanded.
If you’re on a budget, in the long term, these water heaters are more cost-effective and will save you money in the long run. Tankless propane water heaters are a great option for turning off hot water when it isn’t needed. When considering purchasing, you should know that there are many benefits to owning a propane water heater.
What Are the Benefits of a Propane Water Heater?
If you’re in the market for a propane water heater, you should know there are several benefits to keep in mind. Propane water heaters have low operating costs, they’re more efficient, have better recovery rates, are more accurate in their temperature adjustments, and have no risk of electric problems. As you continue to read, we’ll go into a little more detail about these benefits.
Low Operating Costs
If you’ve been on the fence about your propane water heater purchase, their low operating costs may be able to sway you. Switching to a propane water heater will give you bigger savings on your utility bills, leaving more opportunities for doing the things you love the most. Compared to an electric water heater, you’ll save between 13-20 percent on your energy costs annually.
In addition, not only will you save on your utility costs, but also in maintenance areas. When it comes to the cost of your installation, propane water heaters are less expensive than other electric and oil appliances. A new propane water heater will run you anywhere from $700-$2,500.
More Efficient
Compared to electric water heaters, you’ll also find that propane water heaters are much more efficient. This is mainly because propane water heaters heat double the amount of water in 1 hour compared to electric water heaters. With this type of efficiency, you’ll be able to reduce the energy usage that it takes for water storage.
Propane water heaters will also use up to 30 percent less energy. If you opt to purchase a tankless propane water heater, you could even save up to 50 percent in energy costs. This alone makes them a top-rated water heater when it comes to efficiency.
Better Recovery Rates
If you’re wondering what better recovery rates mean, this refers to the heating efficiency of your energy source. In simplest terms, this is how fast your propane water heater can heat water. Propane water heaters need a lot less to heat your water.
This is what gives it a better recovery rate. Because of reduced heating, you’ll get to enjoy those lower costs. If you’re a larger family looking for a water heater, propane water heaters will be your best option because they have the fastest recovery rate.
More Accurate Temperature Adjustments
If you’re looking for a water heater that has simple temperature adjustments, you can’t go wrong with a propane water heater. You will notice that propane water heaters have a dial that is right under the access panel. This is a great benefit to have because it’s easy to adjust and no tools are needed for this step.
All you’ll need to do is turn your knob to warmer or cooler depending on your preference. After that, all you have to do is wait about 3-4 hours to see if your hot water is up to your standards. This is a simple process that can ensure the accuracy of your water temperature.
No Risk of Electric Problems
One of the best benefits of having a propane water heater is that you won’t need to deal with any electrical problems. In the event of a power outage, your water heater will still be able to work since it is not connected to electricity. Your propane water heater that runs solely on its pilot light will still be able to run.
If you have a propane water heater that still uses some type of electricity, in the event of a power outage it will still be able to run for a day or so. This depends highly on how big your tank is, where it’s located, and if you have used your hot water recently. In addition, even though propane water heaters have their benefits, like everything, there are also drawbacks lurking behind them.
What Are the Drawbacks of a Propane Water Heater?
When considering a propane water heater for your home, even though there are benefits, there are drawbacks as well. Some drawbacks to having a propane water heater are that they’re dangerous to install, are less reliable and need routine maintenance. As you continue to read, we’ll go into a little more detail about these drawbacks.
Dangerous To Install
Many times, we know it’s easier and cheaper to complete home improvement projects yourself rather than calling a professional. However, when you need to install a propane water heater, this is an area you’ll want to leave up to a professional. Improperly installing your propane water heater can lead to serious injury since it’s more dangerous.
If the temperature of your water heater is off, or the pressure relief cannot function, this may cause an explosion to occur. Not only can boiling water cause injury, but this will also cost you thousands in unnecessary costs. You should also know that if improperly installed by someone who is NOT a professional, this could void your warranty.
Less Reliable
Believe it or not, propane water heaters are less reliable because you’ll need to worry more about your pilot light going out. This may happen if your pilot light is damaged or has a dirty thermocouple. A thermocouple is a device that measures temperature.
Propane water heaters will collect more dirt and dust which can cause a malfunction. Even though this can be an easy fix by simply brushing the dirt off, this can also be a continuing inconvenience. Propane water heaters are also more susceptible to water leaks which could end up causing even more damage to your home.
Need Routine Maintenance
The last drawback of propane water heaters is that they need routine maintenance. Even though most propane water heaters can last 12 to 15 years, they require more maintenance than electrical water heaters. Some maintenance areas you’ll need to check are your thermostat, pressure relief testing, and flush-outs of sediment.
Your anode rod also needs to be checked every 3 years. The anode rod will save your propane water heater from rusting. If you don’t mind performing more routine maintenance, this drawback may not affect you as it might affect others.
What Are the Benefits of an Electric Water Heater?
If you’re in the market for an electric water heater, you should know there are several benefits to keep in mind. Electric water heaters have a cheap initial cost, are safe to operate, and are more reliable. As you continue to read, we’ll go into a little more detail about these benefits.
Cheap Initial Cost
One benefit to owning an electric water heater is that you’ll have a cheap initial cost. An electric water heater can cost you anywhere between $300-$700. This is a benefit because you may spend more on installation and energy costs.
With these costs, you can expect to pay between a total of $1,000-$1,700, which is a great price for your unit and installation. Remember, this also will depend on the size of your unit and what model water heater you choose. For example, if you own a 50-gallon electric water heater, you can expect to pay an annual cost of around $780 to operate.
Safe To Operate
When compared to propane water heaters, you’ll find that electric water heaters are safer to operate. These water heaters not only take the cake when it comes to efficiency, but since they’re electric, they don’t have any gas that could lead to an explosion. They also don’t have any combustible byproducts.
While you’ll always have safety concerns no matter what kind of water heater you use, your chances are higher of experiencing a gas leak. Therefore, making electric water heaters a better option when it comes to safety concerns. To lessen your safety concerns, make sure you’re conducting proper maintenance on your water heater.
More Reliable
When it comes to reliability, electric water heaters are more reliable than gas water heaters. You’ll find that many of the models are higher-quality, and made by top brands. They are all built for reliability, and efficiency, and come with great warranties.
This is a great benefit to have because, in the long run, you’ll want a long-lasting water heater. Since electric water heaters use the electrical grid to operate, they need to be made of high-quality materials to ensure safety. In addition, even though electric water heaters have their benefits, like everything, there are also drawbacks lurking behind
What Are the Drawbacks of an Electric Water Heater?
When considering an electric water heater for your home, even though there are benefits, there are drawbacks as well. Some drawbacks to having an electric water heater are that they’re less efficient, susceptible to power outages, and expensive to operate. As you continue to read, we’ll go into a little more detail about these drawbacks
Long Heating and Recovery Times
One drawback to keep in mind if you’re considering an electric heater is that it may take longer for your water to heat up. If you use up all of your hot water, then it might take a while for your water heater to heat the remaining water. This is a big drawback compared to propane water heaters that use combustion to heat water fast.
If you’re a large family considering purchasing a water heater, you may want to opt for a propane water heater instead because of this drawback. Even though this is a big drawback, you might be able to avoid it if you purchase the right size water heater for your home. The other option is purchasing a tankless heater which would allow you to heat water as needed.
Susceptible to Power Outages
Probably the most important drawback you’ll need to worry about when owning an electric water heater is power outages. Power outages are common, but following a power outage, you’ll have to deal with trying to get your electric water heater back on. Electric water heaters not working after an outage is a common occurrence.
When this occurs, you could have a tripped circuit breaker, burnt wires, faulty switchboard, plug problems, burnt heating elements, or a thermostat malfunction. A power outage in itself won’t ever harm your water heater. However, when your power comes back on, the voltage surge can fry it.
Expensive to Operate
Even though electric water heaters are more affordable and have an easier installation process, you should know that you’ll probably end up paying more in operating costs. This is mainly because propane is cheaper than running electricity. As always, prices will vary depending on the region.
Keep in mind operating costs also vary due to how many people you have in your home and how many showers you take. If your household only takes about 2 showers a day, then it may be costing you more to operate than you need to. Yes, it is possible to pay for hot water that you aren’t using.
Should You Choose a Propane or Electric Water Heater?
When it comes down to making your decision, we recommend purchasing a propane water heater. In addition to low operating costs, better efficiency, better recovery rates, and accurate temperature adjustments, they are also environmentally friendly. Propane is low carbon which means it’s a clean energy source with no air pollutants.
Propane water heaters are also ranked high in durability. These water heaters will give you almost a decade longer than an electric water heater would. This is because the parts are of better quality and can be repaired rather than replaced.
Propane vs. Electric: Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Propane: Heats water quickly | Propane: Dangerous to install |
| Propane: Lower operating costs | Propane: Needs more maintenance |
| Propane: More efficient | Propane: Less safe |
| Propane: Operates during outages | Propane: Relighting required |
| Propane: Better recovery rate | Propane: Small variety of sizes |
| Electric: Lower initial cost | Electric: Higher operating costs |
| Electric: Wide variety of sizes | Electric: Slower to heat |
| Electric: Doesn’t need to be relit | Electric: Long recovery time |
| Electric: Easier installation | Electric: Can’t operate during an outage |
| Electric: Generally Safer | Electric: Smaller in size |
Conclusion
In conclusion, even though propane water heaters and electric water both have their benefits and drawbacks, each type is capable of working in any home. At the end of the day, if you’re looking for a water heater that is both efficient, durable, and affordable, you’ll want to choose a propane water heater.
Tip: Before you make your purchase, focus on the size, storage capacity, fuel type, and make sure to measure your space to avoid any issues at checkout.
Ruben has a diverse background in the home services industry, with experience running a construction company, a kitchen and bath showroom, and a moving and relocation company. This breadth of experience has provided him with a wealth of knowledge and expertise in various areas of home improvement in general and specifically in the heating and plumbing niche.