Here is an in depth guide on what to expect from a gas or electric water heater. I have listed the pros and cons of both to help you in your purchasing choice.
Gas Water Heater
1) To have a gas water heater you must make sure that you have a source of natural gas or propane. Many houses in the country do not have this option even available to them.
2) Gas water heaters usually cost more for installation verses electric water heaters because of the necessary venting.
3) They come in tall and short models.
4) Gas hot water heaters tend to be better insulated which means they do not cool off as quickly and they maintain the water temperature with less energy.
5) They use electric ignitions so even though they are gas if you have a power outage you will still have no hot water. The new models no longer have pilot lights.
6) Nowadays you can purchase a sealed combustion style gas water heater which prevents the back drafting that old gas water heaters had where dangerous pollutants spill back into the house instead of outside.
7) They offer an excellent warranty of eight to twelve years on a new gas water heater.
8) Gas water heaters will heat water much faster then electric water heaters.
9) You have both an electric bill and a gas bill since a gas water heater also uses electricity.
10) Gas water heaters require more space then electric water heaters. You need up to eighteen inches of space completely around the water heater for ventilation. This is because the gas can accumulate and there is a danger of it exploding.
1) They are safer then gas. Gas can explode but electric water heaters cannot.
2) You can have them where there is no gas lines such as in the country.
3) One single bill per month. You do not have both an electric bill and a gas bill.
4) You can install a timer on an electric hot water heater. This makes it nice if you are going to be gone for a weekend or when you work all day. You can even program it to turn off every night and then begin heating water three hours before you get up every morning. This helps cut your electric bill.
5) No venting is required so no holes in your roof with an electric water heater.
6) Installation is considerably cheaper
7) You can install an electric water heater in a small tight space because they do not require ventilation.
8) Electric water heaters last many more years then gas due to less parts.
9) No pilot lights so you don’t have to worry about relighting. However all new gas water heaters no longer have pilot lights.
10) Electric water heaters are much cheaper to purchase.
http://choose-water-heaters.blogspot.com/2009/08/before-things-heat-up-gas-water-heater.html
http://www.rheem.com/products/tank_water_heaters/gas_water_heaters/
http://www.uniongas.com/residential/naturalgasproducts/waterheater/benefits.asp
