There are three significant differences between gas and electric water heaters.

A Electric Water Heater is essential in every home to supply hot water to faucets and other plumbing fixtures. They are necessary for the heating process since without them, you would have to manually heat the water.

Despite the fact that there are different types of water heaters available, gas and electricity are the two most common ways to heat water. Each type of water heater has advantages over the others. In this essay, you’ll learn about the fundamental differences between an electric and a gas water heater, such as size, cost, and efficiency. But first, let’s figure out what they are:

What is the definition of an electric water heater?

Electric water heaters are a type of heater that heats water by using electricity. This indicates that the tank-style or tank-less water heater’s heating components are powered by electricity.

Electric water heaters, particularly electric instant or tankless water heaters, are popular in Malaysia due to their low startup costs, energy efficiency, and small form.

What exactly is a gas water heater?

Gas water heaters are also available in Malaysia, however they are less common than electric water heaters. As the name implies, the method of heating water with gas normally includes the use of a fuel, most commonly natural gas.

It normally starts working as soon as a hot water line is turned on. When the tap is turned on, a sensor detects the flow of water and activates the gas burner. As a result, water is heated and available from the tap at room temperature.

Gas vs. electric water heater comparison

1. The cost of a water heater

The price differential between gas and electric water heaters is one of the most significant. Electric water heaters are frequently less expensive to purchase. It is less expensive to purchase because it has fewer components and does not have a gas regulator or burner.

The average monthly operating cost of a gas or electric water heater varies depending on how much water you use each month, the size of your home, and the current price of energy or gas. Because gas is frequently less expensive than electricity, gas water heaters typically have lower monthly operating expenses than electric water heaters.

When operational costs for both heaters are evaluated, you may conclude that gas water heaters are always less expensive than electric heaters. This is not always the case. Why? Because natural gas lines are in every home, they frequently lead to the kitchen. If you want a gas water heater, you will need to invest extra money to extend the pipes to where you want to put your water heater. Furthermore, for safety reasons, gas water heaters are frequently located outside of restrooms. As a result, the plumber or installer will have to work harder to find installation space outside of the bathroom. Hence, even though a gas water heater has a low daily operating cost, the startup and installation costs are typically higher, which is why, despite gas’s lower daily operating cost, electricity is frequently used for water heaters in Malaysia.

2. Energy efficiency or environmentally friendly actions

If you want an environmentally friendly hot water heater, you must compare the effects of both types of heaters. Electric water heaters are frequently more environmentally friendly than gas water heaters. This is due to the fact that a variety of renewable energy sources, such as solar or hydropower, can be employed to generate electricity. As a result, by choosing to use energy to power your water heater, you are helping to reduce global warming.

Natural gas is the only fuel that can be used to power gas water heaters. The process of extracting a gas is damaging to the environment since it emits so many greenhouse gases. Furthermore, due to their lower efficiency than electric heaters, gas water heaters are less environmentally friendly than those.

3. Dimensions of the water heater

There are essentially two types of water heater sizes: tank and tankless. Tank water heaters require more room and take longer to heat up, but they deliver steady hot water and pressure. Tankless water heaters, on the other hand, are more compact but have low water pressure.

An Water Heater Singapore water heater is frequently smaller in size, making it easy to mount on the bathroom wall. Despite the lack of a tank, gas tankless water heaters are significantly larger than their electric counterparts. This is done to prevent gas leaks in gas water heaters with extra components such as a burner, regulator, and other features. Also, because the gas water heater must be built outside of your home, you must make place for the pipes that will exit your property, which may require additional space.