Electric or gas boiler: how to choose?

The choice between an electric and gas boiler for water heating in Quebec depends on several factors:

Electric boiler:

• Efficiency: electricity is converted into heat where it is used — no chimney, no loss through flue gases
• Unit cost: no published schedule sets an equipment price; it is obtained through a quote, separately from installation
• Installation: simple, no chimney, no gas to manage
• Lifespan: it depends on maintenance and water quality; the manufacturer publishes its own estimate in the unit's data sheet
• Operating cost: it is calculated with the electricity rate in force — Hydro-Québec publishes its residential rate (Rate D) — and the home's actual consumption, never from a per-kWh price frozen into a text

Gas boiler:

• Efficiency: a standard boiler discharges part of the energy with the flue gases; a condensing model recovers that heat before exhaust
• Unit cost: no published schedule sets it; it is obtained through a quote
• Installation: more complex — gas venting (concentric or chimney), gas connection
• Lifespan: it depends on maintenance and water quality; the manufacturer publishes its own estimate
• Operating cost: it depends on the gas price and consumption; it cannot be derived from a generic comparative percentage

Deciding factors: If natural gas is already available on your street, Énergir charges a base connection fee of $300 depending on expected consumption, plus an additional amount if the gas network has to be extended. As for grants, programs change: Rénoclimat only funds the building envelope (insulation, air sealing, doors and windows) and ventilation — check a boiler's eligibility with Rénoclimat and Énergir before buying.