Electric or gas water heater: which to choose in Quebec?

The choice between an electric and gas water heater in Quebec depends on several factors:

Electric water heater:

• Cost: $600 to $1,200 for the unit (60 gallons)
• Efficiency: Energy Factor (EF) of 0.90 to 0.95
• Lifespan: 10 to 15 years
• Advantages: Simple installation, no gas to manage, safe
• Disadvantage: Higher electricity cost (about $60 to $90/month for a family of 4)

Gas water heater:

• Cost: $1,200 to $2,500 for the unit (40 gallons)
• Efficiency: EF of 0.60 to 0.80 (less efficient conversion, but gas is cheaper)
• Lifespan: 8 to 12 years
• Advantages: Lower operating cost (about $40 to $60/month), faster recovery
• Disadvantage: Requires gas connection, vent (chimney or concentric), and CO detector

Recommendation: If you already have natural gas, a gas water heater is more economical long-term. Without gas, electric is the simple, reliable choice. The heat pump water heater is an emerging option with an EF of 3.0+ and subsidies of $500 to $1,000.