Domestic hot water: electric, gas or heat pump?
Three technologies, very different purchase and running costs. Which suits your home and household?
The choice of your sanitary boiler shapes your energy bill for the next 15 years. A wrong call costs you not only at install but every month. We compare the three common options honestly.
Electric water heater
The classic: an insulated tank with a resistive element. Low purchase, high consumption. Best on night-rate tariffs, but still expensive for a family of four taking many showers.
- Purchase price: €400 – €1,000 for 100–200 L
- Installation: €250 – €500
- Annual use (4 people): 2,500–3,500 kWh = €750 – €1,050 in electricity
- Lifespan: 12–15 years
Gas water heater (integrated or standalone)
A strong option if you already have a gas connection and a gas-fired heating system. Cheaper to run than electric, but you build an installation that will be phased out within 10 years.
- Purchase price: €800 – €1,800 for standalone, or +€200–500 on a gas boiler
- Installation: €400 – €800
- Annual use (4 people): 4,500 – 6,000 kWh = €350 – €470 in gas
- Lifespan: 12–15 years
Heat pump water heater
The modern choice. High investment, low consumption. Works by transferring heat from ambient air (indoor or outdoor) into the water. Bonus: lightly cools the space around it — handy in a utility room.
- Purchase price: €1,800 – €3,500 for 200 – 270 L
- Installation: €600 – €1,000
- Annual use (4 people): 800 – 1,200 kWh = €240 – €360 in electricity
- Lifespan: 15–20 years
- Subsidies: €600 – €1,200 in Flanders (2026)
Do not forget: a boiler is not just an appliance but an installation. A heat pump unit needs adequate ventilation or air intake. We come on site to assess feasibility before quoting.
Written by
Henri Faveere
Owner Favesan
Henri Faveere has been a working plumber for over twenty years. Through Favesan he delivers plumbing, heating, AC and ventilation projects in greater Waregem and beyond.
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