Gas (Natural Gas / Propane)

Gas Water Heaters: The Long Island Standard

The most common type on Long Island, and for good reason. Gas water heaters recover fast (refill the hot water supply quickly), operate cheaply compared to electric, and work even during a power outage if they have a standing pilot.

Best for: homes already on natural gas, families with high hot water demand, and anyone who wants a workhorse without surprises.

Tradeoffs: requires gas line and proper venting. Standby heat loss when the tank sits idle. Not the most efficient option.

Long Island water heater types installation - gas, electric, and hybrid

GAS, ELECTRIC, HYBRID

All 5 Types Side by Side

All Water Heater Types Side by Side

Type	Efficiency	Best For	Watch Out For
Gas (Atmospheric)	Moderate	Most LI homes with gas service	Needs working chimney/flue
Power Vent (Gas)	Moderate-High	Homes without a chimney	Needs 120V outlet, slightly noisier
Electric Tank	Low-Moderate	Condos, no-gas homes, smaller demand	Higher operating cost than gas
Hybrid (Heat Pump)	Highest (3x)	Basements / garages with air volume	Cools surrounding air; slower recovery
Indirect	High	Homes with a hot-water boiler	Tied to the boiler operating

Type by Type

Each Water Heater Type, In Depth

🔥

Atmospheric Gas

Standard residential type. Burner at the bottom, exhaust rises naturally through a vent up the chimney. Works during power outages if it has a standing pilot. Simplest, cheapest type to install.

Requires functional chimney/flue and combustion air supply.

🌬️

Power Vent Gas

Uses an electric fan to push exhaust horizontally out through a wall vent. Great for homes without a chimney, or homes where the chimney is being used for something else. More flexible install location.

Requires a 120V outlet near the unit and PVC vent run to outside.

⚡

Electric Tank

Two heating elements inside the tank. No combustion, no venting, no chimney requirement. Very simple install. Operating cost is higher than gas because electricity per BTU costs more than natural gas.

Common in condos, no-gas homes, and as a backup option.

🌱

Hybrid Heat Pump

The most efficient electric option. Uses a heat pump on top of the tank to pull heat from the surrounding air. Roughly 3x as efficient as a standard electric tank. Eligible for the biggest PSEG-LI rebate and the federal heat pump tax credit.

Needs a space with enough air volume (basement or garage). Slightly slower recovery time than gas.

🔁

Indirect

A tank with no burner or element of its own. Hot water from your home's boiler circulates through a coil inside the tank to heat the water. Excellent option if you already have a high-efficiency boiler with hot water capacity.

Requires an existing compatible boiler with the right output.

⚡

Tankless (Honorable Mention)

Not a tank type, but worth mentioning. Heats water on demand with no storage. Lifespan and efficiency winner; install cost and maintenance the tradeoff. See tankless →

Picking the Right Water Heater Type for Long Island

The water heater type you pick affects efficiency, install cost, recovery speed, and what utility hookups you need. Most Long Island homes are wired and plumbed for gas water heaters, which is why atmospheric gas tanks are the most common type we install. Electric tanks come up in condos and homes without gas service. Hybrid heat pump units have become more popular in the last few years thanks to the PSEG Long Island rebate and the federal 30% tax credit, both of which apply to qualifying heat pump water heaters.

Power vent and indirect water heaters cover the niche cases: power vent when there is no working chimney, indirect when the home already has a high-efficiency boiler doing double duty. Whatever water heater type makes sense for your house, we install it and back the install with a labor warranty. If you are torn between two water heater types, call us and we will talk you through the tradeoffs.

Heads up on hybrid heat pump units: they are the most efficient option on the market and they qualify for the largest LI rebates. They also cool the room they're in (a side effect of pulling heat from air). In an unfinished basement, that's free dehumidification. In a finished basement or a small closet, it can be an issue. We assess the space before recommending one.

Decide Together

What to Read Next

Sizing

Water Heater Types on Long Island