Propane Water Heaters

While they are somewhat uncommon, propane water heaters are one of the more environmentally-friendly methods of water heating. If you live in a state with increased electric rates (as most of us do), installing a propane water heater as opposed to an electric water heater will not only benefit the environment, it will also benefit your bank account!

Perhaps the main reason propane water heaters are less popular than other water heating systems is that they cost more money upfront. And while that may deter some consumers from the initial purchase a propane water heater, homeowners should also consider the long-term savings associated with this type of heating system. Propane water heaters have lower running costs than other types of heating systems, and use up to 50-percent less energy. This results in significant savings over the life of the unit.

Storage Propane Water Heaters

A storage propane water heater stores up to 80 gallons of hot water, making it available for use at all times. A major benefit of storage propane water heaters over storage electric water heaters is that propane systems are designed to fill their storage tank and heat the water much, much faster than electric systems. By cutting the filling and heating time in half, storage propane water heaters can lower a homeowner’s energy bills up to 30-percent.

The main shortcoming of a storage propane water heater is that, by keeping so much water hot all the time, the unit wastes unnecessary energy. Whether you’re at home and actually need hot water, or are away on vacation for two weeks, a storage propane water heater will continue to heat gallons and gallons of water. This results in expensive monthly bills and wasted energy.

Tankless or “Instant” Propane Water Heaters

To get the most out of your hot water heater for the least amount of money, turn to a tankless (“instant”) propane water heater. Unlike a storage water heater, an instant propane water heater does not waste energy because it does not continually heat water in a large storage tank. Instead, an instant propane water heater heats water only the amount of water that’s needed at a given time. When you turn on a hot water tap, cold water circulates through a coil into the instant water heater, and is then heated by a propane burner to the desired temperature. In this way, no energy, heat, or water is wasted.

An energy-efficient instant propane water heater can considerably lower a home’s energy usage and energy bills. To enjoy these long-term savings, though, consumers must overlook an instant water heater’s higher initial price tag.

Because a tankless water heater only heats water “on demand,” they tend to have lower flow rates than storage water heaters. This means that a single instant propane water heater may be unable to support the hot water needs of large families requiring simultaneous use of hot-water appliances. If your family has increased hot water needs, you can work around this problem by installing more than one instant propane water heater in your home: one for each major hot-water appliance (e.g. clothes washer and dishwasher).

Propane Water Heaters Are Eco and Budget-Friendly

If you’re thinking about water heater replacement or water heater repair, talk to a certified specialist about the many benefits of installing a propane water heater!

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