The downside of an electric water heater is they cost more to operate than natural gas water heaters and also take longer to heat water.
Also during a power outage you won't have hot water once the water in the electric water heater cools down.
With a gas water heater or propane water heater you can still have hot water even when the power is out so you can take hot showers and use hot water for anything else you need it for.
An electric water heater is safer than a gas water heater as there's no gas or carbon monoxide that could potentially leak from the water heater.
However electric water heaters cost more to operate and also take longer to heat up than gas water heaters do.
If you have solar and have a gas water heater then you should not switch to an electric water heater as the electric water heaters use a lot of electricity.
However if your solar system can power the electric water heater properly then you could switch to an electric water heater.
Although gas water heaters and propane water heaters are cheap to run so I would stay with my gas water heater or propane water heater even when I had solar.
The cost to run a 40 gallon electric water heater is around $35.00 to $40.00 a month to around $426.00 to $500.00 a year.
However if the electric water heater is on longer than a few hours a day and is constantly heating of water then the cost to run the water heater can be as much as $3.00 to $5.00 per day.
So it's best to shut the electric water heater off when not using it to save money.
Electric water heaters do use a lot of electricity.
Large 220 volt electric water heaters can use as much as 4,500 watts to as much as 8,000 watts of electricity and sometimes more.
It can cost as much as $5.00 a day or sometimes more to run an electric water heater a day depending on the wattage of the electric water heater.
Smaller 120 volt electric water heaters use on average of 2000 watts when on and heating water which can cost 20 cents an hour to run.
Natural gas and propane water heaters are cheaper to run than electric water heaters and they also heat up quicker and last longer.
It is cheaper to run a gas water heater than it is to run an electric water heater.
Electric water heaters cost more to run and operate than a gas water heater as gas and even propane is cheaper to operate than electricity costs.
Propane and natural gas water heaters also heat the water up much faster than electric water heaters do and you also can have hot water during a power outage as well.
You can replace a gas water heater with electric as long s you run an electric wire to the water heater.
Replacing a gas water heater with an electric water heater is easy as all you have to do is remove the old water heater after shutting off the gas and install the new electric water heater in it's place.
Then simply install a new breaker for the electric water heater and run the wire.
If the electric water heater is 120 volts then a 20 amp breaker is good enough but if the electric water heater is a 220 volt water heater then you need at least 10 AWG wire and a 30 amp breaker.
New electric hot water heaters are no more efficient than the old electric water heaters are.
The new electric water heaters use the same heating elements and wattage as the old electric water heaters do.
You won't save money on your electric bill by changing out to a new electric water heater as they all use the same amount of electricity.
However new electric water heaters may keep the water hot longer than older ones due to more insulation but that is the only thing they would do.
You can save money on your electric bill by switching the electric water heater off at the breaker when not using it.
Most electric water heaters are 220 volts although the smaller electric water heaters with only 1 heating element are most often 110 volts.
The larger electric water heaters that have 2 heating elements are always the 220 volt type water heaters and require 220 volts of power to operate.
Electric water heaters do not need to be vented as electric water heaters do no produce any carbon monoxide like gas or propane water heaters do.
However the pressure relief valve should exit to the outside to allow any possible water from the water heater pressure relief valve to exit and not get into the house.
The lifespan of an electric hot water heater is between 10 to 15 years although some electric water heaters can last 20 years.
If maintained properly the electric water heater should last at least 10 years to 15 years.
If your electric water heater is older than 15 years or is getting close to 15 years old then you should look into replacing it soon as the water heater tank could eventually burst open unexpectedly and cause a major flood in the house.
Even if the electric hot water heater tank looks good it can be bad on the inside.
So if your electric water heater is older than 10 years or older than 15 years and is still working it still is a good idea to replace it to prevent other costly damage to the home.
Signs that your electric water heater is going bad include.
Water Is Discolored or Gritty. Inside your hot water heater there is a component called an anode rod.
Hot Water Smells Off.
Tank Is Leaking Water.
Heating Process Makes Strange Sounds.
Hot Water Runs Out Too Quickly.
Water Never Gets Hot Enough.
There's No Hot Water At All.
While today's water heaters are better designed than older models, they still require regular maintenance in order to prolong their lives.
With regular inspection, draining, and flushing, you can expect a gas water heater to last anywhere from 8-12 years and an electric water heater to last anywhere from 10-15 years.
Tankless water heaters typically have a lifespan of 20 years or more.
Traditional water heaters with standing water tanks can last around 10 to 15 years before you notice signs of age.
Parts that most often go bad on electric water heaters include.
Heating Elements. Often, problems with electric water heaters come from faulty heating elements.
Thermostat. If the heating elements are operating correctly, another cause may be a thermostat issue.
Anode Rod.
Dip Tube.
Pressure Relief Valve.