Propane Water Heaters:  The Advantages and Disadvantages of Propane Water Heaters

The Advantages and Disadvantages of Propane Water Heaters

Propane water heaters are becoming more popular as electricity prices continue to rise. Many homeowners are choosing to replace their inefficient electrical water heaters with more efficient propane water heaters. Water heaters have a lifespan of about 12 to 15 years, but replacing them regularly is recommended anyways due to new innovations in efficiency. But it's important to chose the best water heater for each situation, which in some cases means changing from an electric water heater to a propane water heater.
Propane is usually the best choice economically when it comes to heating water. Although prices vary from state to state and in rural areas, most areas of the country still have lower propane costs than electricity costs. Even with the delivery cost of propane factored in, most water heaters running on propane cost less over a year than the same system powered by electricity. This is especially true in rural areas, where electricity may be at a premium price. According to the Department of Energy, in 2007 propane cost $20.47 per million BTUs of heat produced, while electricity cost $31.21 for the same amount of heat. Both propane and electricity have since gone up in price, but the savings offered by propane remain the same.
On-demand tankless water heaters another good way to save money and conserve energy, and they can also be powered by propane. These systems do cost more upfront, but save money over the long run because they aren't constantly running to keep a tank of water hot. Instead, they heat water very quickly only when needed. These systems do require more extensive venting, and can struggle to provide enough hot water at once when two or more sources require it. A direct pipeline from the propane storage tank must also be provided. They're a good choice for single person households, or homeowners willing to stagger showers and running the dishwasher. There's no time wasted waiting for a tank full of water to heat up again, so as soon as one source is done with the hot water, another can use it immediately. Tankless water heaters also have a longer operating life, usually around 20 years.
One obstacle standing in the way of homeowners transitioning to using propane water heaters is the existing system in the house. Homes built and designed for use of an electric system may not have any propane pipes installed, and it can get very expensive to have them added to a pre-existing homes. Newly built homes tend to have a higher chance of having a propane pipe system already installed, and most builders can easily add the system as their building a new house. But even homes designed to use propane for heating or cooking may not have pipes located where the water heater will be placed. It's certainly cheaper to run a small section of pipe from a heating line to the water heater, but still costs more than simply replacing a worn out electrical heater with a new one. In most cases the installation cost will be paid back over the years in money saved on heating costs.
A good vent or flue is also needed to use a propane heater. An improperly vented propane water heater can be a danger, not only possibly starting a fire or explosion, but causing damage to the inhabitants through inhalation. Electric water heaters don't require any kind of ventilation, so a water heater closet will need to be remodeled to accommodate a propane system. This vent will also need to be checked yearly for blockages or damage. The good news is that once a propane system is installed and all of the important remodeling has been done, switching back to electric or back and forth between the two causes no problems. There's no need to remove the pipeline or block the vent, other than simply disconnecting and capping them.
Propane water heaters are certainly a good option for many homeowners looking to replace their worn out or inefficient electric water heaters. Both propane and electricity prices have risen in the past 10 years, but propane continues to have quite a margin of savings over electricity. A tankless heater can save even more in energy costs, but will require more extensive remodeling if the home is not already set up to use propane for water heating.