Gas vs. Electric Water Heaters: Which Is Better for Your Tampa Home?

When a water heater needs replacing, the first question is usually whether to stick with what you have or switch. Most homes in Tampa Bay have electric water heaters, but natural gas and propane are common too. Here's how gas and electric compare, so you can choose the one that fits your home.

Start With What Your Home Has

The simplest and least expensive replacement is usually the same fuel you already have. Switching from electric to gas means running a gas line and adding venting. Switching from gas to electric may need a new circuit or more electrical capacity. Neither is unusual, but both add cost, so the switch has to be worth it over the heater's life.

Electric Water Heaters

• Lower upfront cost for a standard tank, and simpler installation.
• No venting or gas line, so they fit in closets and interior spaces more easily.
• Slower recovery. After a lot of hot water is used, an electric tank takes longer to reheat than a gas one.
• Operating cost depends on your electric rate and the type of heater.

Heat Pump Electric Water Heaters

A heat pump, or hybrid, water heater pulls heat from the surrounding air to warm the water, using much less electricity than a standard electric tank. Florida's warm climate suits them well, especially in a garage. They're taller and cost more up front, need some space around them for airflow, and they cool and dehumidify the room they're in.

Gas Water Heaters

• Faster recovery, so a gas tank keeps up better with back-to-back showers.
• Works during power outages in many cases, depending on the model.
• Needs venting and a properly sized gas line. Indoor units need a safe exhaust path, and combustion air.
• Operating cost depends on your gas rate, and whether you're on natural gas or propane.
• Gas tankless units deliver endless hot water and are popular here. See tank vs. tankless.

Which Should You Choose?

• You already have electric and no gas service: a standard electric tank or a heat pump model is usually the most practical.
• You already have gas: staying with gas, tank or tankless, usually makes sense, especially for a larger household.
• You use a lot of hot water at once: gas recovers faster, and tankless never runs out.
• Space is tight: electric tanks fit closets easily. Tankless units mount on a wall.

Either Way

Size it right for your household (see what size you need), flush it once a year in our hard water, and remember that replacing a water heater in Florida requires a permit.

Need a New Water Heater?

Believe Plumbing installs tank and tankless water heaters, gas and electric, across Tampa Bay. See our water heater services or contact us for a free estimate.