Electric versus gas water heater in NZ

hot water cylinder

When it comes to choosing how you want to heat your water, knowing the pros and cons of various systems is important. It’s important that you do your research of electric and gas water heaters in NZ so that you can make the best decision for your home or office.

There are a number of things to consider as cost and function are important and it is certainly a long term investment so you want to make the right choice between an electric or a gas hot water cylinder in NZ.

Electric

Performance

These have a recovery rate of approximately 190 litres per hour and are therefore better suited to smaller families. It is also worthwhile considering your access to power. If you live in an area that is regularly subject to power outages then this option may be a little risky as electric heaters do require access to electricity.

Efficiency

These are extremely efficient. They use very limited energy in order to complete the job and this makes them reliable.

Cost

In gaining greater efficiency you have to sacrifice a low cost. This option is a lot more expensive than others available. Whilst you may think that you are going to save money with a more efficient service you will find that you are likely to actually end up paying more due to the starting costs of the electric version.

Lifespan

This option is rather durable and you can expect it to last approximately 13 years which is not dissimilar to a gas water heater in NZ.

Gas water heater in NZ

Performance

There are two really great performance advantages when it comes to gas water heaters in NZ and they are; a fast recovery rate of about 50 litres per hour and their ability to continue working even when the power goes out. This makes them good for homes that have limited access to power or are regular victims of power outages.

Efficiency

In order to achieve this fast recovery rate you have to sacrifice some of the efficiency. With a gas water heater in NZ it is always kept hot which means that it is constantly using energy. You will also note that your gas water in NZ will be subject to heat loss as they are not perfectly insulated so this will lead to further inefficiencies.

Luckily, investing in a newer, higher-quality gas water heater in NZ can help to improve efficiency and you are also able to insulate your current one.

Cost

If you already have a gas line to your home then a gas water heater in NZ will likely be the cheapest option that you have available. They are easy to install, are cost-effective to run and require very little maintenance. This makes them the most cost effective model for the majority of homes.

Lifespan

Your gas water heater in NZ will last roughly as long as an electric version. These will last you approximately 12 years. This means that you will get some quality use out of it and in many cases you will have moved homes before you have to replace it.

Whilst this is simply a comparison between the two heating options, there are many more things to consider when deciding on a heating system for your home. This includes the size of your home, how regularly you will use the system and the number of people in your household which will impact on the amount that you are going to need at any one time. It is important that you do your research before investing in such a long term appliance.