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WATER HEATER TYPES

Types of water heaters
and which fits your home.

Tank, tankless or heat pump? Compare how each one fits your current setup, how much hot water you use and your budget.

Gas tank

The usual choice if you already have gas. The new tank has to work with your existing vent.

Read the guide →

Electric tank

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 →

Heat-pump tank

Uses much less electricity. Needs room for airflow and a drain, makes a low hum and can reheat more slowly.

Read the guide →

Tankless

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 →
What to ask about each type of water heater
TypeAsk the installer aboutAlso check
Gas tankYour current gas line and ventThe right model for your vent, and enough air for the burner
Electric tankTank size, and how much hot water it delivers in the first hourHow its running cost compares with a heat pump
Heat pump tankRoom size, location and which mode to run it inA drain for the water it makes, noise, and changes to the space
Gas / electric tanklessHow much hot water it delivers when your incoming water is coldWhether 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.

Tank vs. tankless vs. heat pump, side by side →

REAL EQUIPMENT

What each type looks like.

Tall white gas-fired tank water heater with pipes in a home basement
Gas tank water heater in a basementPhoto: Tomwsulcer ↗ · CC0 ↗
Gray 40-gallon electric tank water heater with yellow EnergyGuide label
40-gallon electric tank water heaterPhoto: Steven Pavlov ↗ · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗
Heat pump water heater with its top-mounted compressor unit exposed during service
Heat pump water heater with the top unit openPhoto: ENERGY.GOV ↗ · Public domain ↗
Two wall-mounted gas tankless water heaters with piping on an exterior wall
Wall-mounted gas tankless water heatersPhoto: Downtowngal ↗ · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗
Top of a gas tank water heater showing the metal flue vent pipe and hot and cold water connections
Top of a gas water heater with vent and water connectionsPhoto: Infrogmation of New Orleans ↗ · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗
White potable water thermal expansion tank hanging from a copper pipe
Thermal expansion tank on a water linePhoto: Tony Webster ↗ · CC BY 2.0 ↗

REAL PHOTOS

What to look for on your water heater.

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

Real photograph of a yellow EnergyGuide label on an electric water heater
Look at the label

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
Two real wall-mounted Rinnai tankless water heaters with visible pipes and vents
See the whole setup

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
Real photograph of an Atmor inline electric water heater
Identify what you have

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