Is a Propane Water Heater Better Than an Electric One?

Imagine opening your refrigerator and seeing a gallon of milk. Now imagine seeing 60 of those.

That’s about how much hot water the average American family uses every day to shower, bathe, wash their hands, wash the dishes, and clean their clothes. When you consider how much water that is, it’s no wonder that heating it accounts for about 18 percent of your monthly energy bill.

The good news is there’s a simple way to keep that number as low as possible: switch from an electric water heater to one powered with propane.

Here are five reasons why:

1. Environmental friendliness – Did you know that nuclear-powered plants produce almost half the electricity produced in Connecticut? Or that almost all the rest is produced by burning natural gas, which produces an enormous amount of methane – a greenhouse gas far worse for the planet’s health than carbon dioxide?

   Propane, on the other hand, is a low carbon, clean-burning energy source that emits virtually no air pollutants. It is also non-toxic, so accidental spills will not damage the environment.

   Another way propane helps the Earth? Propane water heaters – especially tankless models – last longer than electric water heaters (see #4 below), which means less junk in the landfill.

2. Lower total cost of ownership – When you consider the lower cost to install and maintain propane equipment and its longer life span (see #4 below), a propane water heater comes out ahead in long-term energy savings, with a total cost of ownership of about 30 percent less than electric-powered water heaters.
3. Efficiency – Because propane packs a bigger BTU punch per dollar than electricity, propane water heaters heat double the amount of water per hour that electric water heaters do. That means you will get more hot water from a smaller sized tank, and you’ll wait less time for water to heat between uses.

   If you choose a propane tankless water heater, you’ll skip heating (and reheating) stored water altogether, which could save you as much as 50 percent on your water heating bill.

4. Durability – A propane tankless water heater typically lasts a decade longer than electric-powered storage-type heater because it’s built with better-quality parts that can often be repaired rather than being replaced.
5. Home value – A propane water heater – especially a tankless model – could improve your Home Energy Rating System (HERS) and LEED scores, which adds value to your home if you sell it.

As you can see, a propane water heater is a cost effective way to heat water that provides many advantages over its electric counterpart.

Make the smart choice – go propane!

Ready to make the switch from an electric water heater to a propane storage or tankless model? We can help! Contact Hocon today to discuss high efficiency water heater options for your Connecticut home.