Gas vs. Electric Water Heaters: Why Mike Still Chooses Gas for His Home

Choosing a water heater isn’t something most homeowners think about until it’s urgent—like when your old tank springs a leak, or you suddenly find yourself with no hot water mid-shower. That’s when the big question comes up:

Should you go with a gas or electric water heater?

I’ve lived with both. My first house came with a 40-gallon electric water heater, and I stuck with it until it gave me enough lukewarm showers to last a lifetime. When I upgraded to a gas model, the difference was night and day.

That’s why, for my home and my family, I still choose gas water heaters. In this guide, I’ll break down the key differences, real-world performance, cost considerations, and efficiency factors so you can decide which option is best for your household.

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📏 How Water Heaters Work (Gas vs. Electric)

Before diving into pros and cons, let’s understand how these two types of water heaters operate.

• Gas Water Heaters

  • Use a burner fueled by natural gas or propane.

  • The flame heats the water from the bottom of the tank.

  • Require venting to expel combustion gases.

  • Known for faster recovery times.

• Electric Water Heaters

  • Use one or two electric heating elements inside the tank.

  • Heat is delivered more slowly and evenly.

  • Require only an electrical connection—no venting.

  • Simpler installation in homes without gas lines.

Both types come in a range of sizes (30–80 gallons for residential use), but the way they heat makes a huge difference in daily performance.

🔗 Learn more: Energy.gov – Water Heating Basics

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🚿 Hot Water Recovery Rate: Where Gas Wins

One of the most important differences between gas and electric water heaters is recovery rate—how fast a heater can reheat water once it’s been used.

• Gas models: Can heat 35–50 gallons per hour, depending on BTU rating.

• Electric models: Typically heat 15–25 gallons per hour.

This means a family of four using a 40-gallon gas heater can comfortably run multiple showers and a load of laundry back-to-back. With electric, you may find yourself waiting an hour or more for the tank to reheat.

👉 From my own experience, I’ll never forget the first week with an electric tank—three showers back-to-back, and by the time I got in, the water was lukewarm. With gas, I rarely hear complaints about running out of hot water.

🔗 U.S. Department of Energy – Estimating Water Heater Recovery Rate

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💰 Operating Costs: What You’ll Pay Month-to-Month

When people ask me why I stick with gas, I always bring up operating costs.

• Gas water heaters are cheaper to run in most areas where natural gas prices are lower than electricity rates.

• Electric water heaters can cost more to operate, though this varies by region.

Example:

• Average natural gas price (2025): ~$1.10 per therm

• Average electricity price (2025): ~15¢ per kWh

Based on typical household hot water use (about 64 gallons per day, according to the DOE), gas often ends up 20–30% cheaper to run.

Of course, this depends on where you live. If your utility rates are flipped, electric could be more affordable.

🔗 EIA – Average Energy Prices

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⚡ Upfront Costs: Equipment & Installation

• Gas Water Heater Costs

  • Equipment: $600–$1,200 (for a 40–50 gallon unit)

  • Installation: $400–$1,000 (venting, gas line hookup)

  • Total: ~$1,000–$2,200

• Electric Water Heater Costs

  • Equipment: $400–$900 (for a 40–50 gallon unit)

  • Installation: $200–$700 (simpler, no venting)

  • Total: ~$600–$1,600

So yes—electric tends to be cheaper upfront. But over a decade of use, gas often saves more money on bills, offsetting that difference.

🔗 Forbes Home – Water Heater Installation Cost Guide

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🌱 Energy Efficiency & Environmental Impact

This is where the debate gets interesting.

• Electric water heaters are generally rated more efficient. Their Energy Factor (EF) scores are higher because nearly all the electricity goes directly into heating the water.

• Gas water heaters lose some heat through venting. Even modern high-efficiency models (with EF around 0.67–0.70) don’t reach the same ratings as electric.

But here’s the catch:

• If your electricity comes from renewable sources (solar, wind, hydro), electric water heaters can be the greener choice.

• If your grid relies heavily on coal or natural gas, the environmental impact of an electric heater might not be much better than gas.

For me, gas is still the practical option. But I’ll admit—if I were building an all-electric, solar-powered home today, I’d lean toward electric.

🔗 ENERGY STAR – Water Heaters Overview

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🛠️ Maintenance & Lifespan

Both types require care if you want them to last:

• Gas models: Need annual flushing to remove sediment and occasional inspection of the burner and venting.

• Electric models: Need flushing and replacement of heating elements over time.

With good maintenance, both last 10–12 years, though I’ve seen gas units stretch to 15.

🔗How Long Do Water Heaters Last?

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🏡 Real-World Scenarios: Which Works Best?

👨👩👧 Family of Four in a Suburban Home

• Winner: Gas

• Multiple showers, laundry, and dishwasher running. Recovery rate matters most.

👩 Living Alone in a Condo

• Winner: Electric

• Lower upfront cost, compact installation, no gas line needed.

🌱 Eco-Friendly Couple with Solar Panels

• Winner: Electric

• Renewable energy offsets higher operating costs.

🧑🔧 DIYer Upgrading in an Older Home

• Winner: Depends

• If gas line exists, go gas. If not, electric saves thousands in installation costs.

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📊 Side-by-Side Comparison

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✅ Mike’s Final Verdict

For my family, the answer is clear: gas water heaters win.

• They recover hot water faster—critical in a busy household.

• They’re cheaper to run month-to-month in my region.

• They’ve proven reliable over decades of use.

That said, I’ll always recommend electric for smaller households, homes without gas service, or eco-minded folks pairing with solar.

Bottom line? There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. But if you’re after performance, value, and never hearing “Who used all the hot water?” again, gas is the way to go.

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In the next topic we will know more about: Installation Guide: What Mike Learned Replacing His Old Tank with a 40-Gallon ProLine