Water Heating Compare Hot Water Heaters Gas Oil Solar Electric
Water Heating General Considerations ...
After space heating & cooling or air conditioning , water heating is the largest consumer of energy in US homes.Water heating is responsibe for about 15% of electricity usage and 25% of gas usage. Natural gas and gas fired hot water heating is the most popular fuel for water heaters and water heating.
About 50 to 55% of all hot water heaters in USA are gas fired. Hot water gas heaters using gas normally cost more to install but are cheaper to run than electrical hot water heaters.
By paying attention to burners and heat losses there has been almost 10% efficiency increase for gas fired hot water heaters in last number of years.
Although gas fired water heaters are most common those heated using electricity are second most common. About 35% of all hot water heaters are electric hot water heaters. Electrical heaters (especially tankless hot water heaters) are easiest to install.
Only about 5% of all hot water heaters use oil as heating fuel. This type of hot water heater also lasts for shorter periods between the need to replace your hot water heater.
Because of low running cost solar hot water heaters are cheapest of all over a life time of operation