Gas Water Heaters

Gas Consumers throughout the U.S. – particularly those living in areas with inexpensive natural gas rates – rely gas water heaters to provide hot water to their homes and businesses. Gas water heaters are available in three main forms: conventional “tank” gas water heaters, tankless “demand” gas water heaters, and indirect gas water heaters. Let’s take a closer look at the benefits and drawbacks of these common types of natural gas water heaters.

The Most Popular: Tank Gas Water Heaters

Conventional “tank” gas water heaters are the most popular type of gas water heater. In a tank gas water heater, a gas burner is positioned underneath the storage tank, heating the water inside the tank to a preset temperature (typically around 130 degrees Fahrenheit). When the water temperature falls below the preset temperature, the gas valve opens and reheats the water. When the water temperature reaches the desired level, the valve then closes. Since a tank gas water heater holds up to 80 gallons of water at an extremely high temperature, this type of gas water heater is less energy-efficient and leads to significant standby heat loss (and resulting costly energy bills).

The Most Efficient: Demand Gas Water Heaters

Tankless gas water heaters, however, result in zero standby heat loss because they do not maintain and store heated water in a tank. Instead, demand gas water heaters only heat the water that is presently requested when someone in the home turns on a hot water tap. In a demand gas water heater, cold water flows into the unit and is then heated by a gas burner. Within five seconds, hot water flows into the faucets for use. No heat, energy, or money is wasted with this type of gas water heater.

Another advantage of a demand gas water heater (particularly over the ever-popular electric water heater) is that demand gas water heaters have a faster flow rate. What does this mean? A faster flow rate simply means that it can better handle simultaneous hot water needs. For example, with a demand gas water heater, you may be able to take a hot shower and wash dishes at the same time. For bigger families that tend to use hot water appliances simultaneously, technicians can install multiple demand gas water heaters throughout the home, or designate a single unit to each major hot-water appliance, to ensure optimal results.

A Combination of Storage and Efficiency: Indirect Gas Water Heaters

Homeowners looking for complete water heater replacement often consider an indirect gas water heater. Indirect gas water heaters are, in essence, a combination of tank and demand systems. Like a tank gas water heater, an indirect gas water heater uses a storage tank. The difference is, though, that an indirect gas water heater heats water using the home’s space heating system (e.g. furnace or boiler). This conserves energy. Using an indirect gas water heater means that your furnace will turn off and on less frequently due to the energy stored in the tank. A fully insulated storage tank can save even more energy and money!

If you live in a state with relatively inexpensive natural gas rates, a gas water heater is a great option for water heater replacement. But don’t forget about efficiency: installing an energy-efficient gas water heater could save your family or business hundreds of dollars every year. Plus, it will help the environment by reducing carbon emissions.

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