If you’re looking to buy a boiler, some people may recommend a gas boiler, while others may advise you to go for an electric unit instead. But are you aware of the differences between the two?
In this article, we’ll answer the electric boiler vs. gas boiler question for you, providing essential information as to which one is better and why.
Do you want to find out more? Then let’s go!
Electric Boiler vs. Gas Boiler – Comparison in 2023
Electric Boiler – Product Overview
By using electricity instead of burning fuel, electric boilers don’t have energy losses due to waste gasses. Because of that, these machines have an efficiency rating of up to 99%, which is far more superior to the standard gas boiler.
That’s only one of the benefits of having an electric boiler. You can also expect compact devices, powerful performance, and user-friendly features.
Recommended Electric Boilers to Buy
Now, let’s talk about some of the most-rated electric boilers currently available. We’ve picked five units due to their efficiency, safety, and performance, among other considerations.
1. Bosch Electric Mini-Tank Water Heater Tronic 3000
With an outstanding thermal efficiency of 98%, this heater is capable of providing up to 2.5 gallons of water. The glass-lined materials used for its build aren’t only durable, but they’re also easy to maintain.
Customers will have two methods of using this unit; one would be to connect the cord into a 120-volt outlet independently, while the alternative would be to set the heater in-line with a large water source.
Thanks to the bracket included, the unit mounts neatly on the shelf, wall, or floor. Once set, it’d give you the option to supply a couple of sinks simultaneously.
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Related Guide: Tankless Water Heater vs Boiler for Radiant Heat
2. Stiebel Eltron Tankless Water Heater Tempra 24 Plus
Continuing with an incredible line of products, Stiebel Eltron provides the Tempra 24 Plus tankless water heater, a device that offers both efficiency and reliability. By featuring advanced flow controls, this unit maintains proper water temperature throughout the day.
Also, the heater’s system guarantees flow reduction if the water demand surpasses its capacity. Regardless of what the unit is supplying, be it shower or sinks, lack of hot water is something that shouldn’t worry you anymore.
Overall, everyone can enjoy how user-friendly the machine is. From flow sensors to temperature display and memory buttons, the Tempra 24 Plus provides hot water flawlessly. Even better, during its performance, the machine makes barely any noise that would disrupt the household.
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3. Ecosmart ECO 36 Electric Tankless Water Heater
If you like sleek appliances as much as we do, this device from Ecosmart may be a good pick for you. It’s an electric tankless water heater that works on 240V, and it features a good-looking display to keep track of the temperature output.
Other than being a fancy appliance, the heater is also quite efficient. It rates as being 99.8% energy efficient, meaning that no energy goes to waste. Instead, the unit uses electricity wisely, which, of course, translates into less money spent on bills at the end of the month.
Once set up, the ECO 36 is capable of supplying water for a total of four showers! Furthermore, add a couple of sinks to that, and you’ll have an outstanding tankless water heater like no other. So, as you can see, this device is far more than simply a good-looking tankless water heater.
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Suggested Guide: Noritz vs Navien Tankless Water Heater
4. Stiebel Eltron Tankless Water Heater Tempra 29 Plus
Stiebel Eltron is one of those brands that offer excellence to secure a reliable reputation. We saw it before, and we see it once again with the new Tempra 29 Plus water heater.
Similar to other heaters from this brand, the Tempra 29 Plus is an electric heater that requires a hard-wired installation. At 240 Volts, the unit works at 28,800 Watts, while it’d deliver a 21,600 Watts performance when setting up at 208 Volts instead.
Setting up this heater may be a little more complicated, but the results are very pleasant. It’s a unit that provides on-demand and continuous water flow to different areas of the house. Also, thanks to its sleek design and user-friendly controls, every homeowner can use it without any problems.
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5. Stiebel Eltron Tankless Heater Tempra 36 Plus
Lastly, another unit from Stiebel Eltron. Undoubtedly, the Tempra Plus line of heaters has been incredible so far, and here we have more proof of that.
The Tempra 36 Plus, shares several similarities with previous models, like the sleek and compact design, but it does have some differences as well.
For instance, the max amperage draw is 150 A, requiring a minimum electric service of 300 A. The minimum water flow needed to activate the unit is 0.77 GPM, and the temperature varies between 86°F to 140°F.
You can adjust the temperature through the intuitive, user-friendly digital display featured at the front. While operating, the unit is quiet, and it saves plenty of energy, rating as a 0.99 energy-efficient heater.
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Gas Boiler – Product Overview
There are many types of gas boilers out there, offering plenty of variety for homeowners to find the most suitable for them. Although less popular than other devices, gas boilers remain a reliable hot water supplier to keep the house up and running.
With a gas boiler, you can expect plenty of GPM, convenient features such as smartphone apps to keep track of them, and a convenient build to fit almost everywhere.
Recommended Gas Boilers to Buy
Following the same structure as earlier, we’re now reviewing the top gas boilers currently available for us. Just like we did with the other type of boilers, we’ve selected these products due to how well-made they are.
6. Rinnai V65IN Tankless Water Heater
When it comes to natural gas heaters, you can’t go wrong with Rinnai. This brand has several lines of products that are quite impressive. It’s not only because they’re powerful, but also because the units are easy to install, durable, and well-designed.
The V65iN is an indoor unit that works on natural gas. At full capacity, it’s capable of providing up to 6.5 gallons per minute, which varies depending on the groundwater temperature. Ideally, this heater is perfect for residential and light commercial applications.
Also, this unit offers the Control-R 2.0 mobile app, allowing you to operate the heater from the comfort of your phone. With that application, you’ll be able to do operations such as setting timers and the working schedule. Additionally, there are other options, such as setting the vacation mode.
Because of those and many more reasons, many people consider Rinnai to be a great boiler manufacturer. Not for nothing, it’s a brand you’ll see in many lists reviewing the most efficient boilers.
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7. Noritz NRC66DVNG Tankless Hot Water Heater
The following heater from Noritz weighs less than 40 pounds, which makes the unit easy to handle and install.
Once you do, the machine offers a flow rate reaching up to 6.5 GPM, which is more than needed for a variety of purposes, whether it’s for residential or commercial applications.
With modern heat exchanger technology and integrated controllers, this unit guarantees a reliable performance throughout the day.
Also, for more convenience, the system offers the option to schedule working time, allowing you to decide the right hours to supply water.
Regardless of how long it operates, the leak-proof design guarantees the heater continues working with no issues for many years. Also, once it’s up and running, the heater makes sure to use water and energy efficiently, which helps in saving money.
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8. Takagi T-H3-DV-N Gas Indoor Tankless Water Heater
Over the years, Takagi has established itself among the top brands when it comes to tankless water heaters. The T-H3-DV-N unit is one of the reasons for the company’s success, an incredible heat exchanger with a compact design, and it is highly energy-efficient.
And the heater is pretty safe for regular use too. It offers integrated safety measures to maintain a stable performance throughout the day.
For example, there’s no overheating risk, or freezing, making this device a good pick for many applications.
Sure enough, the safety measures are effective, which is good if we consider the heater’s power.
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9. Rinnai RUC98iN Ultra Series Tankless Water Heater
The RUC98iN model from Rinnai is an indoor tankless water heater that works on natural gas. You can use concentric or PVC venting to install the unit, and once set, its space-saving design makes the heater consume less space than other units.
While active, the unit is capable of delivering a maximum input of 199,000 BTU. The ultra-low NOx emissions and the 0.96 energy efficient-rating means the heater works safely inside the house. Even then, safety measures like anti-overheating come included in the system too.
And while the residential temperature range varies between 98°F to 140°F, the commercial temperature range goes between 98°F to 185°F. Users could use the commercial controller to operate the heater, but they’d have to buy it separately.
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10. Rheem RTGH-95DVLN Tankless Water Heater
Although Rheem is a less popular brand, the quality of its appliances is undeniable. The RTGH-95DVLN is a natural gas water heater that delivers 9.5 GPM, rating as a 94% energy-efficient unit made with stainless steel.
The digital display shows information like the temperature settings, and also the maintenance codes. If needed, you can use the EZ-Link cable included to attach more than one unit to work simultaneously, which is helpful for larger applications.
Still, don’t expect to install this unit quickly. While previous customers mentioned it took around six hours, others went as far as saying the installation required several days, including some trips to the store.
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Electric vs. Gas Boiler – Main Differences
Before making a conclusion, we have to take a closer look at the differences between these two types of boilers.
Electric Boiler
Once active, the electric boiler tends to be quieter than the gas boilers. Also, the mechanism of electric units has less moving parts, meaning that there are low risks of issues taking place inside.
Furthermore, these appliances provide no electricity emissions, and there’s no risk of carbon monoxide leaks.
On the downside, electricity is more expensive than natural gas, so that’s a cost you should be willing to cover. Many electric boilers aren’t suitable for large homes either.
Gas Boilers
Are you tired of paying high bills? Then you’re in luck. The natural gas used in these boilers is way cheaper than electricity. Also, these units are capable of satisfying high demands, whether you use the heaters for heating or to supply hot water.
Other benefits of having gas boilers are that there are a lot of brands producing this type of appliances, giving you plenty of variety. If you need to replace them, the gas units are rather easy to remove and set up too.
Do you want to know the downsides? Here are some: plenty of moving parts create higher chances of incidents, the size of these units is often larger than the electric units, and there are also risks of carbon monoxide leaks.
Conclusion – Which One’s Better?
When it comes to the electric boiler vs. gas boiler, many people would argue the electric boilers are far better. Yes, gas is cheaper than electricity, but electric units have fewer risks of leaks and parts getting damaged. Gas boilers, on the other hand, get damaged fairly easily when compared.
In the end, it’s your decision to purchase the one you like the most. Consider your options and pick wisely.
