How to tell if water heater is gas or electric? Are you trying to work out what kind of heating system you have? Chances are, you might be wondering whether it’s gas or electricity powering your water heater
Get a sneak peek at the lid of any storage tank water heater and you’ll be able to easily spot a gas one – just look for the metal cylinder AKA flue jutting out from its top! Gas heaters always come with a temperature dial and an access panel on the bottom that hides their pilot light.
Electric water heaters usually have an electrical wire or conduit attached to their tops – the only exception is an exterior-mounted tankless (or “on demand”) gas water heater! Instead of a flue, it’ll feature a series of louvered vents around its top, unlike electric tankless water heaters – not that we’ve ever seen one installed in a windowless, external location!
How Can I Identify if My Water Heater Is Gas or Electric?
Figuring out which type of water heater is installed in your home couldn’t be easier! Just follow these steps and you’ll quickly clue in to which one’s been heating up your H2O.
Make Sure the Pilot Light's Blue!
A gas heater is easy to spot – it usually has a tell-tale pilot light.Electric heaters come without bulbs though, so no need to look for one there!
Is the pilot light on? That blue flame is a sure sign that your water heater runs on gas. So if you spot it, you’ll know your hot water needs are being taken care of!
To get to the pilot light, just pop off the access panel on your heater’s side. Easy peasy! And make sure you’ve got a good grip because it might be a bit tricky to pull off.
Scout Around for a Power Cable
Plug into your heart’s electrical outlet with a cable that’s often black or grey – a substantial extension of the heater. Check it out!
Got an electric heater? Chances are you’ll spot a hefty wire snaking out its top or side.
Hunt for a Copper or Black Pipe
The base of a gas water heater will feature either a half-inch black pipe connection or a quarter-inch copper one. Got it? Yep, if you’re in the market for hooking up your gas water heater, these are your options. Gas flows through both of these lines to heat up your water.
Identify the Vent Pipe
Woah! That hot water heater – does it come with a PVC pipe? And check the diameter, is it about 3 or 4 inches? If so, bingo – you’ve got yourself a gas water heater.
Your average gas water heater comes with a motor and fan, pushing out the exhaust fumes. Wow – talk about a heat wave! Not only that, but you’ll totally feel the breeze flyin’ by you when this baby runs! And there’s no need for worry – it’s just as safe as can be.
No chimney is needed here! Electric water heaters don’t produce any exhaust, so the vent pipe makes it super easy to let out the water heater’s fumes. How convenient! Ah, of course – if there’s an exhaust pipe on your water heater, that’s a dead giveaway it’s a gas one!
Find the Water Heater on the Electric Service Panel’s Main Break
When you hook up an electric water heater, it could throw a wrench into the electricity running to your main panel – that water heater’s the culprit behind the leak! Gotta stay on top of electrical problems. There’s no mistaking an electric water heater: it’ll have a label with a power switch – so easy to spot!
It pays to follow these tips to detect what kind of water heater’s been installed in your abode. See if you can figure it out – it’ll come in handy later on! Make sure to observe all the specifics, and voilà. Uh-oh, you need more info if you want to avoid having to pay costly electricians or plumbers – so don’t just stop at knowing the type of water heaters in your homes!
Maximizing the Efficiency of Water Heaters
Aaaah, it’s hot water we can count on – well, most of the time. We hardly give a thought to our trusty hot water heater until it lets us down; then we really feel the heat! With this hardworking appliance quietly humming in the background, though, who would’ve ever guessed what a savior it could be?
Don’t miss out on energy savings for your hot water heater! It’s a no-brainer that it accounts for approximately 18% of a home’s total annual energy use. If you’ve already got one, don’t sweat it – there are several options to cut down the energy expenditure. But if you’re in the market for a new one, choose wisely; getting an energy-efficient model off the bat is your best bet for saving significant time in the long run!
Gas vs Electric Water Heaters: What's the Difference?
Aspect
Gas Water Heater
Electric WaterHeater
Energy Source
Natural gas or propane
Electricity
Installation
Requires a gas line and a venting system
Requires an electrical connection
Upfront Cost
Less expensive
More expensive
Operating Cost
Lower operational cost
Higher operational cost
Efficiency
Have lower energy efficiency
Have a higher energy efficiency
Recovery Rate
Have a higher recovery rate – faster heating
Have a lower recovery rate – slower heating
Maintenance
Requires regular inspection and maintenance
Lower maintenance requirements
Environmental Impact
Produces greenhouse gas emissions – burning fossil fuel
Minimal greenhouse gas emissions
Availability
Widely available
Widely available
Performance during power outages
Operates without electricity
Needs electricity to function
Lifespan
10-15 years
10-15 years
Want to know roughly how much you spend on your water heater? Check out Energy.gov – they’ve got a great calculator that factors in both gas and electric models. You’ll be able to get a ballpark figure for your energy expenses in no time. So don’t hesitate – to hit the site up and save some bucks!
FAQS
What's more popular: Gas or electric water heaters?
Well, it’s no surprise why gas-powered storage water heaters are the most popular – they’re cheap! But when installing one in your home, it’s best to stick them in the basement or garage; that way, any extra heat won’t make you uncomfortable inside. So if you don’t want your livable space to get too hot, move ’em outside where they belong!
Are gas and electric water heaters equally common?
Electric water heaters act the same as gas ones – heating up the water using two elements, except they get their power from electricity rather than gas. Usually, with gas heaters, you’ll see the heating element lower in the tank.
Conclusion
Do you now know how to tell if your water heater is gas or electric? A water heater is often a costly investment, so you may not give it much thought. Still, if you want to make sure your utility bills stay low, there are some important things to consider before buying a new hot water heater. What size do you need? What types of options are out there? How does energy consumption factor in? Do your research and save some dough!
Hi everyone! My name is Jason, and I am the founder of HeaterWise.com. Having run my own business as a Heating Engineer for 21 years, I have picked up a few things along the way.
I wanted to create Heater Wise as a place where anyone could come, from far and wide, to find the information that they need.
I hope you will join us here at Heater Wise, to get started on your own journey, to expand your knowledge, and make the best heating choices for you and your family.
