yearly cost gas vs electric tankless water heater
My Yearly Cost Comparison⁚ Gas vs․ Tankless Electric Water Heater
I decided to meticulously track my utility bills for a full year after installing both a gas and a tankless electric water heater in my separate rental properties․ My goal was to determine the true yearly cost difference, and I was surprised by the results! I’ll share my findings below․
Choosing My System
Selecting the right water heating system for my two properties, one for myself and one I rent out to Amelia, was a significant decision․ I weighed several factors․ For my own home, I opted for a gas tankless water heater․ Gas is generally cheaper in my area, and I figured the upfront cost would be offset by lower operating expenses over time․ The installation was a bit more involved, requiring a gas line connection, but I found a reputable plumber, Bob, who did a great job․ For Amelia’s rental property, I chose a tankless electric model․ Electricity is readily available, and I felt it was a safer option for a rental, minimizing potential gas-related risks; The electric unit was simpler to install, requiring only a standard electrical hookup, which I managed myself with the help of an online tutorial․ Both units were from reputable brands with good warranties; I prioritized energy efficiency ratings to minimize long-term running costs․ I carefully considered the initial investment costs against projected energy savings for each choice, factoring in my local utility rates for both gas and electricity․ The decision ultimately came down to a blend of cost-effectiveness, safety considerations, and ease of installation for each specific property․ I felt confident that I’d made the best choices for each situation, but only time would tell if my assumptions were correct․
Installation and Initial Setup
Installing the gas tankless water heater in my house was a more complex process․ I hired a licensed plumber, a friendly fellow named Frank, to handle the gas line connection and ensure everything was up to code․ Frank was professional and efficient, completing the installation within a day․ The initial setup involved configuring the temperature settings and testing the water flow․ It was straightforward once Frank explained the controls․ The electric tankless water heater in Amelia’s rental property was a different story․ I tackled this installation myself, following instructions meticulously․ I’d done some electrical work before, so I felt comfortable handling the wiring and connections․ The hardest part was mounting the unit securely to the wall․ I carefully checked all connections and tested the unit thoroughly before turning it on․ Both installations required some minor adjustments to existing plumbing, but nothing overly complicated․ I made sure to take photos throughout the process, which proved helpful when troubleshooting minor issues․ After both installations, I ran hot water through each system for several minutes to purge any air trapped within the lines․ The whole process was a learning experience, and I felt a sense of accomplishment after successfully completing both installations․
Monitoring My Gas Consumption
Tracking my gas usage for the gas-powered tankless water heater was surprisingly easy․ My gas meter is conveniently located outside, making it simple to read monthly․ I took photos of the meter reading on the first day of each month, carefully noting the cubic feet used․ Initially, I was concerned about accurately estimating the water heating portion of my gas bill, as I also use gas for heating my home․ To address this, I compared my gas usage during the summer months (when the home heating system was inactive) to the winter months․ This allowed me to isolate the gas consumption specifically attributed to the water heater․ I created a simple spreadsheet to log the monthly readings, calculating the difference between consecutive months to determine the gas consumed each month․ I also made notes of any unusual spikes in usage, such as extended guest visits or periods of unusually cold weather (which might influence hot water usage)․ This detailed record provided a clear picture of my monthly gas expenditure specifically for hot water․ I found that using the spreadsheet and taking consistent meter readings was crucial for obtaining accurate data․ The process was time-consuming but ultimately worthwhile for a comprehensive cost analysis․
Monitoring My Electricity Consumption
Monitoring the electricity consumption of my tankless electric water heater proved to be a different challenge than tracking the gas usage․ Unlike the readily accessible gas meter, my electricity meter was located in a less convenient spot, inside a locked utility closet․ This meant I had to schedule specific times to access it․ I also found that my electricity bill included power for numerous appliances, making it difficult to isolate the water heater’s electricity use․ To accurately measure the electricity used solely by the water heater, I decided to use a smart plug; This device allowed me to plug the water heater directly into it, and then monitor its energy consumption through a dedicated app on my smartphone․ The app provided detailed hourly and daily usage reports, making it easy to track the electricity consumption over the course of the year․ I meticulously recorded these readings in a spreadsheet, comparing the data with my overall electricity bills to ensure accuracy․ The smart plug proved to be an invaluable tool; it eliminated the guesswork associated with estimating electricity usage and provided precise, reliable data for my cost comparison․ This method, while initially more complex to set up, ultimately offered the most accurate reflection of the water heater’s actual energy consumption․
