Gas tank
The usual choice if you already have gas. The new tank has to work with your existing vent.
Read the guide →Home / water heater types
WATER HEATER TYPES
Tank, tankless or heat pump? Compare how each one fits your current setup, how much hot water you use and your budget.
The usual choice if you already have gas. The new tank has to work with your existing vent.
Read the guide →The simplest swap if your heater is electric now. Also get a price on a heat pump model, which costs less to run.
Read the guide →Uses much less electricity. Needs room for airflow and a drain, makes a low hum and can reheat more slowly.
Read the guide →Heats water as you use it. Size it for how many taps run at once and how cold your water comes in.
Read the guide →| Type | Ask the installer about | Also check |
|---|---|---|
| Gas tank | Your current gas line and vent | The right model for your vent, and enough air for the burner |
| Electric tank | Tank size, and how much hot water it delivers in the first hour | How its running cost compares with a heat pump |
| Heat pump tank | Room size, location and which mode to run it in | A drain for the water it makes, noise, and changes to the space |
| Gas / electric tankless | How much hot water it delivers when your incoming water is cold | Whether your gas line or electrical panel can handle it, and regular descaling |
Each linked guide lists its manufacturer and ENERGY STAR sources. These questions help you choose. They don’t replace an installer’s plan for your home.
REAL EQUIPMENT






REAL PHOTOS
The label, and the pipes and connections around the heater, show what kind you have.

An actual water heater EnergyGuide label. Its dollar figure estimates annual energy use costs, not replacement cost.
Photo: Tony Webster ↗ · CC BY 2.0 ↗ · Resized for web; not otherwise edited
A commercial two-unit tankless installation on a dairy farm. Equipment example only; not a typical residential quote or our work.
Photo: Behrat ↗ · CC BY-SA 3.0 ↗ · Resized for web; not otherwise edited
An inline electric water heater. A compact unit like this is different from a large storage tank.
Photo: Victor Korniyenko ↗ · CC BY-SA 3.0 ↗ · Resized for web; not otherwise edited