Electric Water Heaters

The home owner today is under constant pressure to make the home as energy efficient as possible. Starting with the water heater is an excellent idea. The water heating and cooling system accounts for nearly 40% of the total energy consumption of the household. By getting maximum efficiency out of this area, drastic reductions could be realized in energy costs. In this article we will look at electric water heaters. We will look at how the compare against water heaters powered by other sources and evaluate if they are the most economical option.

The electric water heaters are of course powered by electricity. Many claim that this is a much cheaper option for the home owner. Those that sell these systems claim that the electricy will be made more efficient therefore the cost to the homeowner will come down.

The truth of the matter is unless the electricity is powered by a damn or atomic source. It still won’t be cheaper than water heaters powered from Gas or other sources. Electric water heaters end up costing about 3 times more than water heaters powered from gas or solar energy. The reason being is that the electricity will be created by burning a fuel of some kind. The amount of efficiency lost in this process is incredibly high making electricity a rather precious resource. Unless an alternative method is being used to create the electricity. The electric water heaters will end up costing more.

Despite this increase in costs, electric water heaters do provide some advantages over gas or propane heaters. Electric water heaters are quite easy to install. An electrician can have it up and running in a matter of hours. Due to the easy installation, electric water heaters are usually much cheaper in initial costs.

Many also prefer the added safety of the electric water heater. There is no flammable or combustible material in the home that can catch fire or explode as with other water heaters. This makes them highly desirable to families with small children and vulnerable adults.

The overall costs of electric water heaters may make them a less desirable option. However, the ease of installation and the added safety make them still highly desirable.