Water Heaters – General information

There are several types of water heaters using several types of energy. The most common water heaters in the Ottawa area are electric or gas tank style water heaters otherwise known as hot water tanks. Both the electric and gas hot water tanks are either owned or rented (please note that many home owners are renting their tanks and don’t even know it). To know if you are renting your hot water tank: look at either your hydro bill or your gas bill in the itemized section. Please note that if you are renting a water heater then your rental company is the only company that can provide service to that unit.

Warning for renters: The tanks rental fees will cost you more than purchasing the tank out right (see article Water Heaters: Renting vs. Buying for more details).

Another point to consider for the gas rental tanks is the quality. I know most people who are renting don't really care about the quality so long as it works. But that is a mistake that can cost them thousands of dollars in wasted money over time.

Standard hot water tanks have an energy factor of only 59% when they are brand new and over time the accumulation of sediment in the bottom of the tank further reduces the energy efficiency of the unit. These tanks simply were not made to be efficient just cheap to rent. The low rental price tag is attractive but the energy bills will not be.

Another misconception is that gas water heaters that exhaust out the side of the house are high efficient. Where this may be the case with your furnace it is NOT with you water heater. It is the exact same hot water tank design with an added fan on top to allow for side-wall exhaust. This allows for more installation possibilities without having to build a chimney for the house but the disadvantage is that the fan on the top of that hot water tank is usually quite noisy. A natural draft venting gas hot water tank is quieter to operate but requires a chimney with a properly installed chimney liner that meets CSA certification and TSSA legal standards which can be quite pricy if you don’t have a pre-existing chimney that meets legal venting codes.

Currently the only high efficiency natural gas water heaters available start at over $4,000. Not many people have those installed due to their higher costs. There is however a movement towards tankless water heaters (they have been used in Europe for over 20 years and are well known for their energy savings). These tankless water heaters have an energy factor around .85 and are designed in such a way as to allow for future cleaning to maintain that efficiency. They are also smaller and hung on a wall taking up less living and/or storage space. For more information on tankless water heaters please see our webpage on tankless water heaters or contact us.

For those who can’t afford the more efficient natural gas water heaters, electric is still a very efficient way of heating water. One big advantage is they are quiet and reliable. But the bad news is they are an expensive energy user. If however your water demands are small an electric hot water tank may still be a viable option. In most cases electric hot water tanks are the least costly option to have installed.


Deciding which type of water heater to go with is not always as easy as you would hope. You need to consider your budget, the time you will be in the home and your hot water consumption patterns.

Why is Francis Plumbing & Heating Ottawa’s best choice in water heaters?


  • Licensed, certified, and insured
  • Professional installations (usually same day)
  • Lifetime water heater extended guaranty available for as long as you own your home
  • Customer Service available when you need it
  • 24 hour emergency service every day of the year
  • Over 75 years of experience


We believe that part of being a responsible business in Ottawa is providing ongoing education and information to our community so that our neighbors and friends can make informed decisions when it comes to home improvement and understanding of today’s water, sewer, heating and cooling industries.

The following articles are highly recommended reading to understand not only what options are available to you, but things to consider when buying or renting your next hot water tank.



Articles:


Water Heaters: renting vs. buying - the best solution

There are many advantages and disadvantages to buying or renting your hot water tank but with all the information out there trying to understand what is best for you may not be easy. So I have broken down the pros and cons for you so that you can make an informed decision to which is best for you – renting or buying your hot water tank… Click here to read the full article.

Buying a Water Heater – getting a deal on hot water tanks.

So you have decided to buy a hot water tank – but with so many companies selling them and so many brands available how do you know if you are getting a good deal?
Not all hot water tanks are created equally… Click here to read the full article.

Water Heaters: how to save money with your hot water tank
When I was doing some research on how I can help my customers save even more money and lost resources I came across an article from Natural resources Canada titled “Better Water Use Means Bigger Savings”. In particular I felt that the section on water heaters was not only informative but also showed customers how they can help conserve water (and save money in the process)… Click here to read the full article.

Hot Water Tanks energy saving could cost you your life! 
With so many websites out there telling people to lower the temperature on their hot water tanks to prevent scalding and to save energy, I felt it was vital to let people know about the serious health risks involved in lowering hot water tank temperatures. Legionnaires' disease is a severe pneumonia that is contracted by breathing in vapors from contaminated warm water supplies. Your hot water tank may be a breeding ground for this very dangerous disease…Click here to read the full article.

For 24 hour emergency service call 613-825-3427

Ottawa's plumber serving Ottawa, Barrhaven, Kanata, Stittsville, Nepean, and surrounding areas.



Home Plumbing Heating Boilers Water Heaters Tankless Water Heaters
Radiant Floor Heating News & Tips Specials Guaranty
About Us Our Team Links Local Ottawa Links