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How Efficient Is a Propane Water Heater?

Written on: March 20, 2023

We’ll help you decide which water heater saves you the most energy and money.

propane water heaters harrisburg, pa How much energy do you think you use every year to heat water? According to the U.S. Department of Energy, most American households use about one-fifth of their energy on hot water. Any way you cut it, hot water generation comprises a big chunk of your home’s energy expenses.

It only stands to reason that homeowners want the most efficient water heater on the market. And when Luzerne County customers ask us what the best option is, we recommend propane-fired water heaters.

Comparing efficiency of electric vs. propane water heaters

As a starting point, you must consider that propane packs a bigger heating wallop than electricity. A single gallon of propane can generate 91,500 Btu’s of heat energy. What does that mean for hot water generation?

You don’t need as large of a propane unit to produce the same amount of hot water. To generate 70 gallons of water in the first hour of use, you would need a 50-gallon electric water heater but only a 40-gallon propane model.

And recent technological advances have virtually eliminated heat loss in propane water heaters. High-efficiency condensing units have some of the fasted recovery times around.

“A 100,000-Btu condensing unit will fully heat a 50-gallon tank in 20 minutes,” says Rheem’s Jeff Haney. “You can start taking a shower after the first 10 minutes.”

In short, you get prompt, plentiful hot water with a propane water heater.

Do electric or propane water heaters cost more?

Propane water heaters often cost more than electric alternatives, but there are significant operations savings from heating water with propane. In cold climate zones like the Pennsylvania towns and cities we service, propane storage tank units have 10 percent lower annual costs than electric units, according to research conducted by the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC).

A PERC study compared homes that used electric and propane water heaters and found that households using the propane product saved over $350 annually!

Koppy’s Propane’s appliance selection is second to none.

Are you interested in taking advantage of propane water heaters’ efficiency and comfort? Koppy’s has you covered!

We sell and install a range of premium-quality propane appliances. Our propane hot water systems come in both traditional storage tank units and tankless water heaters. Propane tankless water heaters offer even better efficiency and supply almost unlimited hot water on demand!

Our propane appliance selection also includes the following:

  • furnaces
  • fireplace inserts and gas logs
  • cast-iron stoves
  • garage heaters
  • space heaters
  • gas ranges

Koppy’s Propane’s team of technicians has industry-leading safety training and works with products from countless manufacturers. You can depend on them to install your water heater quickly and correctly and maintain it for years of efficient service.

Is your hot water system on its last legs? Please don’t wait for it to break down and leave your home without a warm shower. Contact us for a free estimate.