Dim Your Bill

10Water heating

Water heater cost calculator: electric, gas or heat pump

Enter how much hot water you use and your gas price. The rest is physics.

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Electric resistance tank
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Gas tank
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Heat pump water heater
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Physics: gallons × 8.34 lb × temperature rise. Efficiency assumed: electric 0.93, gas 0.62, heat pump 3.5 (UEF).

The efficiency figures are Uniform Energy Factors (UEF), the rating on the yellow EnergyGuide label. A typical new electric tank rates about 0.93, a standard gas tank about 0.6 to 0.7, and heat pump water heaters about 3 to 4. Use the numbers from the label of the models you’re comparing for a closer answer.

Gas prices are in dollars per therm; your gas bill lists the rate. If your bill shows CCF (hundred cubic feet), one CCF is close to one therm.