--99.203.xx.xxx

More expensive to replace gas so at apartments as we need new ones we switch to electric. Tenants are paying the electric bill. --24.61.xxx.xx

Tenants sometimes don’t turn on the gas right away, but always turn on the electric. --64.251.xxx.xxx

when power goes out we still have hot water --99.103.xxx.xxx

Thank you. Yes i have considered all the tenant needs. What about the actual water heater and longevity or moving parts? Does one last longer? Are they equal in performance? --99.203.xx.xxx

Electric for tenants, gas indirect for my house. Electric is cheaper to purchase, more expensive to run, but the tenants pay for that. I don't have to worry about direct vent or chimney issues, easier to replace. Installed with Pex or flexible fittings we can easily install a new one without any sweating of pipes. --108.4.xxx.xx

You might consider the point of use electric heaters. They are much less expensive plus having more than one, if one goes bad, tenant still has the other one. These come in small, medium and large. I put one medium for a mobile with maybe a small one in a second bath. Small ones are about $80-$125. Medium about $165. When --23.121.xx.xxx

I have a little different opinion here, and maybe more direct to your question. In m option I like gas better. The tanks in general are going to last about the same amount of time. With gas in general less moving parts. As long as it keeps burning then it they have hot water. Electric water heaters have usually 2 elements in them to heat the water. These can and do fail. They can be replaced, but when they go they go. Gas does have a few failure points. In summary I have both, and I service the electric more often than the gas. --75.50.xxx.xx

Electric tanks do not blow out from windy nite before - name a holiday.... --76.188.xxx.xx

Thanks. Going gas. --99.203.xx.xxx

I bought three electric water heaters for one building when the code changed to require a larger hole in the chimney for the exhaust pipe, now four inches. I had the chimney lined and that would have meant breaking open that hole again. So by choosing electric you have less load on the chimney, no chance of carbon monoxide poisoning from the water heater or the flame lighting up some flammable chemical in the basement that the tenant puts there when they store their gas can in there. Also if the gas company shuts off the power there you won't have to have someone come and relight the water heater. I am very happy with the three electrics and they are on the tenants' bills so they won't be using the shower to heat up the bathroom. --73.178.xxx.xx

One reason all of my rental houses have new electric water heaters is because AL Power gives anyone a free brand new in the box Rheem 40 gallon tank IF you convert your former gas water heater over to a new electric one. --68.63.xxx.xxx

electric ones last much longer.. I just replaced an electric one this morning.. took me an hour to buy it and drain the old one, 5 minutes to put new one in.. --72.209.xx.xx

Wow Roy, converting gas to electric? Here in NY they want you to convert electric to gas. But then our electric rates are very high compared to a lot of other places. --108.4.xxx.xx

Around me, gas WHs are the norm. Installation is easy with your basic plumbing knowledge and experience. I have replaced more than 300 of them thru the years. --99.59.x.xxx

We no longer can install as permits must be pulled and regular people can't pull them. We are having the electric panel box upgraded to 200 amps. If ever the furance goes out we will go electric and not have any gas at this home. Tenants like one utility and electric does that. For now we will install another gas water heater as it currently is gas. The gas ones i currently have seem to last a long time with little attention. --99.203.xx.xxx

I am using the yellow energy usage tags on new water heaters as my source of information. --72.172.xxx.xx

As a plumbing contract that knows how to keep and maintain my rental water heaters, I prefer Gas over Electric. Gas cost less to operate and heats up faster. --47.156.xx.xx

... sometimes the gas gets cut off in spring cause they own back bills and they go all summer with out heat and hot water. So when i can i convert to all electric. But this timen this house I'm out of energy and patience to endure the process. Thanks for all the above, i believe everyone is right! --99.203.xx.xxx

Guys and gals - Plenty seems to be from the owner point of view - not who pays the usage bill. In my experience electric has a considerably longer average life and a lower cost. Both a plus... --62.216.xxx.xxx