Water Heater System Test

You're Always Comfortable With Natural Gas...

From October 24 to November 26, 2002, Okaloosa Gas District, under the engineering direction of Exelon Services Federal Group (ESFG), conducted a series of tests on three distinct water heater systems.

Okaloosa Gas invites you to view the test results so you can have the information you need to decide for yourself which energy source will provide your family with comfort and value. We thank you for your time and we will be happy to answer any questions you may have. Call or Email! Okaloosa Gas today for more information.

Here's what the chart below represents:

Test #1 showed that between the traditional tank water heaters, the natural gas water heater costs approximately 49% less to operate than the electric unit. There are several key advantages between the natural gas and electric water heater. The natural gas water heater, as illustrated in Tests #2 and #3, delivers more hot water and recovers faster than the electric model. Also, the natural gas tank water heater will continue to provide hot water even during power outages.

The Rinnai Continuum tankless water heating system costs approximately 68% less to operate than the electric tank water heater and 37% less to operate than the natural gas tank. This was based on the typical usage of an average four-person household.

Test #2 measured delivery (i.e.: how much hot water can you get from the tank before you run out.) Beginning with an average out-going temperature of 135-degrees and ending with an average temperature of 80-degress, the natural gas tank delivered approximately 36% more hot water than the electric unit -- that's an extra 33.2 gallons of hot water for bathing, clothes and dish washing! The Rinnai wasn't tested here because it never runs out of hot water.

Test #3 measured recovery (i.e.: how much time does it take for the water heater to heat the water from 80-degrees to 135-degrees.) The natural gas water heater recovers approximately 64% faster than the electric unit -- that's almost 40 minutes faster! The Rinnai wasn't tested here -- since it never runs out of hot water, it never needs to recover!

Test Procedures

The testing procedures are derived in part from the "Test Procedures for Water Heaters" outlined by the Federal Register, Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations CFR), Part 430. These regulations provide a standard for fair comparison between energy efficiency, energy use, and the annual operating cost of water heaters produced by different manufacturers.

You can review the testing procedures as defined by Exelon Services. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this document. You can get a free copy of Acrobat Reader by clicking on the Acrobat icon.

• Read the Water Heating Systems Test #1 Procedures by Exelon Services.
• Read the Water Heating Systems Test #2 Procedures by Exelon Services.
• Read the Water Heating Systems Test #3 Procedures by Exelon Services.

Summary of Results

        (costs are based on current utility rates as of January 1, 2012)

Read more about Natural Gas: All About Natural Gas

American Gas Association's Users Guide to Natural Gas Water Heaters