When making a buying decision on a water heater, one of the most important factors that affect this is water heater prices. There are many water heaters available nowadays which offer a wide price range. They could go as cheap or as expensive, depending on the brand. When choosing a water heater, it is best to choose not only those that fit within your budget, but also those that give superior quality and efficiency. By choosing the right water heater, you could be saving a lot of money in the long run.

What should I do first in buying a water heater?

Before anything else, you should determine what type of water heater you want to have. You can choose between an electric or gas-fueled water heater. There are also water heaters that burn oil, kerosene and propane to heat water. Some use solar panels and wood heat.

What type of water heater is more affordable?

By comparing the water heater prices of gas-fueled and electric water heaters, you will find that electric water heaters are less expensive. All things relatively equal (brand, features, style), a gas-fueled water heater can cost about $50-$100 more than an electric water heater.

Does this mean I should get an electric water heater?

If you base your purchase simply on the price tag, then yes you can buy an electric water heater. But if you really want to make a significant difference in your investments in the long run, you will have to look beyond the price and reconsider your decision.

What does that mean?

According to the data provided by the Department of Energy during the year 2005, natural gas was found to cost $15.13 while electricity costs $27.26. This is rated by the average dollar cost per million Btus of heat produced. Relatively, using natural gas is by far the most affordable, most convenient and clearly the cheapest fuel used for water heaters.

Although gas-fueled water heaters can cost you about $100 more than electric water heaters, just think about how much money you will be saving in the long run by using natural gas fuel.

What can I do if I still like to purchase an electric water heater?

If for some reason, having an electric water heater appeals to you more, you can still enjoy it and at the same time take advantage of the economy of using a gas-fueled water heater. There are products available that allow you to do just that. This works by removing the electric heating element in your water heater, turning it into a storage tank. A new gas-fired heating unit is then attached to the existing water tank using two inch water lines. With this system, you can experience three times the heating capacity of a standard electric water heater.

Overall, before you finally decide in buying a new water heater, make sure to consider other factors than the water heater prices. You must have to first identify what type of water heater suits your need and budget. And always keep in mind that although there are many water heaters that are affordable these days, what matters most is how efficient they are.