Electric Hot Water

Most gas hot water services do use a minimal amount of electricity. While they rely on gas for heating the water, they often have electronic components that require a small amount of electricity to function.

• Storage Gas Hot Water Systems: These systems may use electricity to power the temperature control sensor and thermostat, ensuring the water stays at the desired temperature.
• Instantaneous Gas Hot Water Systems: These systems typically use even less electricity, mainly to power the electronic ignition instead of a pilot light.

However, there are some exceptions:

• Older Gas Hot Water Systems: Some older models might use a continuously burning pilot light to ignite the gas instead of electronic ignition, eliminating the need for electricity.

It depends on how your hot water is heated. There are two main categories:

• Electric Hot Water Systems: These systems use electricity directly to heat the water. They have a heating element that works similarly to a heating coil on a stovetop. These will use the most electricity out of all hot water heater options.

• Gas Hot Water Systems: These systems use natural gas or propane to heat the water. While they burn gas for the main heating process, they often use a small amount of electricity to power some electronic components. This could be for things like the thermostat, temperature control sensors, or electronic ignition (instead of a pilot light).

Here are a few ways to determine if your hot water heater is gas or electric:

Visually Inspect Your Heater:

• Gas: Look for a gas line entering the bottom of the heater. You might also see a vent pipe exiting the top of the unit to release exhaust from the gas combustion.
• Electric: Electric heaters typically won’t have a gas line or vent pipe. They may have a thick electrical cord plugged into the top or side of the unit.

Check the Access Panel:

• Gas: If you feel comfortable, carefully remove the access panel (refer to your heater’s manual for instructions). Inside a gas heater, you might see a blue pilot light or a series of complex pipes. Warning: Only do this with the power off if your heater is electric.
• Electric: Inside an electric heater, you’ll likely find a simpler system with a single heating element or thick wires.

Look at Your Utility Bills:

• Gas: If you have a separate gas meter, and you see charges for gas usage, your hot water heater is likely gas-powered.
• Electric: If you only have an electricity meter, your hot water heater is most likely electric.

Check the Manufacturer’s Label:

The manufacturer’s label on the hot water heater itself should indicate whether it’s a gas or electric model.

If you’re still unsure after trying these methods, it’s best to contact us.

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Converting a gas hot water heater to electric is generally not recommended for a few reasons:

• Cost: The process can be expensive. 

• Electrical Capacity: Your existing electrical wiring might not be able to handle the increased electrical load of a new hot water heater. 

• Efficiency: While electric heaters are nearly 100% efficient in converting electricity to heat, gas heaters can sometimes be more cost-effective in operation depending on your electricity rates.

Better Options to Consider:

• Replace with a New Gas Hot Water Heater: If your existing gas heater is nearing the end of its lifespan, replacing it with a newer, more efficient gas model might be a better option.

• Install a Heat Pump Hot Water Heater: This is a more efficient electric option that uses electricity to move heat from the surrounding air or ground to warm the water. Heat pump water heaters can be two to three times more efficient than conventional electric resistance heaters.