Electric Water Heaters: Which One to Buy

Need something different?

• 

  Smaller household

  Rheem PROE40 T2 RH95 40-gallon

  40 gallons, first-hour rating 55 gallons, UEF 0.93. $221.49 less.

  $699 on Amazon

What size tank do you need?

Size on the first-hour rating, not the gallons. It is how much hot water the tank delivers in your busiest hour, and it is on the yellow EnergyGuide label. The U.S. Department of Energy says to match it to your peak-hour use: add up the showers, laundry and dishwasher you run in that hour.

Standard tank or heat pump tank?

UEF is the DOE test rating: higher costs less to run. Yearly cost is computed from the certified rating at U.S. average electricity prices. Prices read on Amazon today. A heat pump tank needs space around it, a condensate drain, and it cools the room it sits in. More on heat pump water heaters.

Questions buyers ask

What size electric water heater do I need?

Match the first-hour rating on the EnergyGuide label to your busiest hour of hot water use. The U.S. Department of Energy gives a worksheet for it: add up the showers, laundry and dishwasher loads you run in that hour.

How much does it cost to run an electric water heater?

About $779 a year for a standard tank at U.S. average electricity prices, computed from its certified rating.

Can I install an electric water heater myself?

Many places require a permit and a licensed plumber. It needs a 240-volt circuit sized for it, and the water and power must be off while you work.