New and old water heaters: comparison between gas and air-energy water heaters

Zhao Yi, a famous Qing Dynasty writer, said in his poem: Talented people emerge from generation to generation, and each leads the trend for hundreds of years. The original meaning of the poem refers to the continuous emergence of talents. In fact, in addition to talents, the water heater products in our homes also follow the law of "talented people emerge from generation to generation" and are constantly being updated.
In the last century, the first generation of gas water heaters entered the family and became popular all over the country. This water heater uses natural gas as energy. Burning natural gas generates a high-temperature flame, which is used to heat the originally low-temperature cold water to generate hot water at about 40°C to meet the needs of bathing.
In 2017, a generation of air-energy water heaters came out of nowhere and quickly occupied the market share, which brought about earth-shaking changes in the entire water heater market. The energy consumed by air-energy water heaters is completely different from that of gas water heaters. There are two types of energy consumed by air-energy water heaters, one is electricity and the other is air energy. Needless to say, electricity can be seen everywhere in our lives. However, air energy may be unfamiliar to many people. Air energy refers to various types of heat in the air. Air energy water heaters collect this heat and use it to heat water.

From gas to air energy, the two generations of water heaters have obvious differences in heating principles. What kind of difference does this bring in actual use?
• Hot water supply
In terms of hot water supply, since gas water heaters are instant water heaters, they can produce water instantly, and the water output capacity is not limited. As long as the natural gas supply is sufficient, the equipment can always provide hot water. In contrast, air energy water heaters are storage water heaters, so the amount of hot water they provide is relatively limited.
• Multi-point water supply capability
However, although gas water heaters have obvious advantages in water output speed, they cannot meet the needs of multiple water points at the same time, and the convenience is insufficient. Air energy water heaters do not have such problems. As long as the pipeline is connected, hot water can be delivered to multiple water points at the same time to meet the hot water needs of the whole family.
• Safety factor

Since gas water heaters generate high-temperature flames of several hundred degrees during the heating process, and the combustion process of coal gas may release carbon monoxide, there are safety hazards such as carbon monoxide poisoning and suffocation, as well as explosion and fire of water heater equipment. In contrast, the air-energy water heaters currently on sale, such as Mitra and Newente, all adopt a water-electricity separation design, which effectively isolates the circuit from the water circuit. There is no risk of electric shock during the heating process, and there is no possibility of fire, poisoning, or suffocation, which greatly improves the safety factor of hot water bathing.
• Heating cost

Because of the difference in heating principles, the heating efficiency of the two water heaters is also very different. The heating efficiency of water heaters that consume natural gas is generally about 85%, while the heating efficiency of air-energy water heaters can reach 400% at the highest. The difference in numbers is reflected in reality, which is the difference in cost. The cost of gas water heaters is about 950 yuan, while that of air-energy water heaters is only less than 500 yuan. In terms of efficiency and economy, air-energy water heaters have more significant advantages.