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If a pipe bursts in your basement or your roof leaks, where do you turn? Find out your neighbours' favourite fixers, where your neighbours like to go out to eat, who they go to for piano lessons, and more. This list is a compendium of listserv posts from four local lists.
Changing To An Electric Water Heater
From: Emily
I'm wondering about the pros and cons of electric versus gas water heaters. I've been told electric is better in terms of energy conservation: is that true? We currently rent our gas water heater from Enbridge, who've actually just sent us a coupon offering money to change over from an electric to a gas water heater. Why would someone
want to do that?
Any info is welcome.
From: Yves Bonnardeaux
Generally, gas units are cheaper to run because of the cost of electricity as compared to gas. See links below for information guide on hot water heating choices. from Canadian Government http://www.oee.nrcan.gc.ca/publications/infosource/pub/home/Heating_With_Gas_Chapter8.cfm?text=N&printview=N from American Government http://www.aceee.org/consumerguide/waterheating.htm
Condensing unit heaters (gas) are very efficient, but cost more. I don't think that Enbridge has them as rentals, but you can have them installed by a qualified trade. Condensing Hot Water Gas Unit link
http://www.johnwoodwaterheaters.com/Polaris/compolaris.html
If you want to be even more efficient and green, you can have a solar hot water preheat system installed. You can see one that we designed, and had the Holmes gang install, at the following link:
http://www.holmesonhomes.com/lien_on_me/eco_features.php
http://www.solsmart.com/
I hope the information is of help.
From: Alan
We installed a unit a year or two ago. If I recall correctly, Erella was asking about on-demand heaters last fall or so, I posted my thoughts in detail at that time. A quick summary: yes, ours works well and as advertised. But there are drawbacks...
1) You can't have a 'trickle' of hot water, as it operates based upon flow rate. The rate must be substantial enough to "enable" the heating procedure, otherwise you just get cold water. 2) It takes several seconds for it to kick in, so if you're, say, washing dishes and you turn the hot water off/ on/ off/ on etc. then you'll be getting a lot of cold water. 3) Depending on the unit you get, you can only have so many appliances drawing the water at once (ours is "two"). More than that and the water won't be at the target temp. 4) As Andrew said, expensive to install (~$2,500, if I recall correctly)
In general, it's theoretically more efficient, but how you use it and where it's located in relation to where you need the hot water does affect how much it'll cost to run. It requires some 'training' to maximize the efficiency of the unit. I'm ;happy with ours, I'd do it again, but it's not without it's limitations.
FYI, you can also get on-demand electric as well.
From: Andrew Munger
Emily - My understanding is that European style, gas, "on-demand" water heaters are by far the most efficient.As the name implies they heat water as it is needed, rather than keeping a tankful of water hot constantly. They are more expensive to buy and install but more efficient in the long run.
http://www.enwisepower.com/products/productscope.aspx?gclid=CPD1iKzfvJMCFR30IgodORZACw