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 Water Heater Efficiency
Ratings, Measurements, Improvements
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Water heater energy efficiency comparisons: this article describes and compares the energy efficiency or operating costs of different types of water heater systems. We list methods for improving water heater efficiency and hot water usage, the efficiency of how we use hot water, and how to reduce the contribution of hot water heating cost to the total building energy bill.
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Hot Water Heater Efficiency Ratings, Factors, Improvements
A Quick Comparison of Water Heater Types by Efficiency
By 2010, according to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, water heater efficiencies could be organized and described by an energy efficiency factor. Water heater types are listed below in order of overall energy efficiency as follows:
Table of Water Heater Energy Efficiency Ratings |
| Energy source - fuel |
Type of water heater |
Energy Efficiency Rating - EF |
| Oil, No.2 home heating oil |
Conventional oil fired water heater |
0.55 |
| Gas, LP or Natural |
Conventional gas fired water heater |
0.60 |
| Gas, LP or Natural |
High efficiency gas fired water heater |
0.65 |
| Gas, LP or Natural |
Pilotless gas fired water heater |
0.80 |
| Gas, LP or Natural |
Condensing gas storage type water heater |
0.86 |
| Electricity |
Minimum-efficiency electric storage type water heater |
0.90 |
| Electricity |
HIgh efficiency electric storage type water heater |
0.95 |
| Solar |
Solar water heater, electric backup |
1.20 |
| Electricity |
Electric heat pump water heater |
2.20 |
Notes to the table:
1. The energy efficiency ratings do not reflect water heater recovery times. For example, an electric storage tank type water heater will generally have a slower recovery time than a gas fired or oil fired heater of similar size.
See WATER HEATER PROPERTIES for a description of water heater life expectancy, recovery rates, costs and operating costs, and a comparison of other water heater types and properties.
2. Data sources [1] [2] [3] [4]
3. As we explain below, the local efficiency of a water heater may look great, but the true energy efficiency of a water heater depends on more broad considerations. For example, electric resistance heating is only as clean and efficient as the fuel (often coal) used at the electrical company's power plant. The cost, efficiency, and environmental impact of the fuel used at the electrical generating plant that powers your electric heater varies widely by geographic area.
4. Also see ENERGY STAR PROGRAM |
 But, currently (2012) unless your electric utility company is offering preferential electricity rates (such as off-peak energy use or an "all electric home" discount), even though modern electric water heaters have a higher efficiency factor than oil or gas fired water heaters, don't assume that an electric water heater is the most sound environmental choice.
These energy efficiency factor ratings do not include variations in life expectancy of the water heater, but ACEEE rated all of the water heaters at an expected 13-year life except oil-fired that they rated at 8 years.
The shorter life of the oil fired equipment, combined with its lower EF (if these are accurate estimates) mean that the per-year operating cost of oil fired water heating equipment is more than its competitors. These ratings also do not compare BTUH input rates of the different equipment and thus don't say anything about the hot water recovery rate.
Also, the purchase and install costs of these different types of water heating systems vary widely, from a low of $820. for a typical high-efficiency electric storage type (tank) water heater, to $4,800. for a solar water heater with electric backup. Costs do not include installation labor nor the effect of financial incentives, to this cost for solar hot water is over-stated.
Hot Water Usage Efficiency Improvements You Can Make
 Often efficiency improvements in hot water use (or production) include include recommendations for installing restrictions on the flow rate of hot water in a building (flow restrictors or restrictors combined with an anti-scald valve), either right at the fixtures, or at the water heating device. You are trading off total flow rate for reduced water heating costs.
- Alternative ways to make hot water: consider replacing or adding a hot water production alternative that is more energy efficient. At ALTERNATIVE HOT WATER SOURCES we describe alternative methods for making hot water. In addition to the obvious improvement of updating to a more fuel efficient model water heater, options such as pre-storage tanks or cascaded water heaters can make a very significant reduction in the cost of heating hot water, especially for buildings where the hot water quantity usage is large.
- Appliances: Change home appliances to install devices that consume less hot water. For example, see our hot water usage example below.
- Electric water heaters: install a water heater timer so that you are not paying to keep water hot when there is no call for hot water. Details are at TIMERS for ELECTRIC WATER HEATERS.
- Hot water usage: when replacing a clothes washer, install models that use less water by installing a high efficiency washing machine with a "low water factor" and always wash full loads rather than smaller loads in your washing machine
- Plumbing fixtures: Change plumbing fixtures (low flush toilets, restricted flow shower heads and faucets) to install devices that consume less hot water. For example, replace showerheads that have a flow rate greater than 2.5 gallons per minute (the current National Energy Policy Act standard), with low flow shower heads.
Watch out: for increased hot water scalding burn risk hazards where low-flow shower heads are installed in homes without an anti-scald device. See MIXING / ANTI-SCALD VALVE
- Shower usage: How to take an efficient but nice and hot shower: especially for older fixtures that do not make use of a reduced-flow shower head, take shorter showers, and better still, use your shower more intelligently. Our daughter Mara used to start a shower by turning the hot water all the way on, to its fastest flow rate, then tempering the hot by turning on enough cold to avoid getting burned.
This gives a wonderful power, fast, huge water flow out of the shower head. But if you instead turn the hot water, say just half way on, or fully on until water is hot, then backing it off to half-speed, you will need less cold mixed-in to make the shower comfortable, and you'll suck hot water out of your water heater at half the rate.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about water heater efficiency & efficiency improvements
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Technical Reviewers & References
Related Topics, found near the top of this page suggest articles closely related to this one.
- [1] American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy,
529 14th Street N.W., Suite 600,
Washington, D.C. 20045-1000, (202) 507-4000
E-mail: aceeeinfo@aceee.org
E-mail: ACEEE_Publications@aceee.org - www.aceee.org/ - original source for comments in this article|:: http://www.aceee.org/Consumerguide/waterheating.htm
- [2] GAMA data base of water heater efficiencies: http://www.gamapower.org/water.php
- [3] Energy Efficient Water Heating, US Department of Energy, provides tips on lowering your water heating bill
- [4] Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd., 120 Carlton Street Suite 407, Toronto ON M5A 4K2. (416) 964-9415 1-800-268-7070 info@carsondunlop.com. Thanks to Alan Carson and Bob Dunlop, for permission to use illustrations from their publication, The Illustrated Home which illustrates construction details and building components. Carson Dunlop provides home inspection education including the ASHI-adopted a Home Inspection Home Study Course, and publications such as the Home Reference Book, the Home Reference eBook, and report writing materials including the Horizon report writer, and home inspection services. Alan Carson is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors.
Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair
 The Home Reference Book - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 25th Ed., 2012, is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume. Special Offer: For a 10% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference Book purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.
Or choose the The Home Reference eBook for PCs, Macs, Kindle, iPad, iPhone, or Android Smart Phones. Special Offer: For a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference eBook purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAEHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space.
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- Carson Dunlop, Associates, Toronto, have provided us with (and we recommend) Carson Dunlop Weldon & Associates' Technical Reference Guide to manufacturer's model and serial number information for heating and cooling equipment
Special Offer: Carson Dunlop Associates offers InspectAPedia readers in the U.S.A. a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Technical Reference Guide purchased as a single order. Just enter INSPECTATRG in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space.
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