The water heater in my stinky water heater thread isn’t a new one, and even if I can fix the smelly issues, sooner or later I’ll need to replace it. It’s a propane unit and I don’t have electric power to where the water heater is. I can have 220 run there, since ‘it’s only money’, but would I be better with a gas unit or an electric unit, or even a tankless unit? Before you make a suggestion, let me outline the service situation first.

This is a small cottage (real small), with a shower, and bathroom and kitchen sinks. Except for holidays or the occasional visitor, we keep it closed up. Before we built the main house, we spent weekends in the little house, so it got a good bit of use, but now it mostly just sits empty. I keep the water heater lit, and the heat turned to vacation mode, so the water stays warm, but not hot. Gas usage is constant but low.

So, I’m thinking about replacement with an electric water heater like the one I have for the barn apartment, so I can just turn it off when we don’t need it. Except for the cost of running power to the unit, the cost would not be big. But, many of you like the tankless units. It would need to be a gas unit, and the cost of tankless and occasional maintenance would surely be higher than the electric tank type water heater. So, at the moment, I am leaning toward the electric tank type.

Your thoughts?

Seems the most economical thing to me. You are not in s rush. Check with Home Depot first.

I have always had electric tank water heaters. Never been disappointed with them, that is what I would do. When not in use flip the breaker and drain it.

But you have to fill it before you turn the power back on.

I would even consider a tanked heater if you already have propane there and doing the work yourself its not that expensive and very easy to do . Well damn something happened to my link but amazon is the easiest place to check out different types of propane heaters

for as little use your unit will see

a tankless electric is the right choice

What unit would y'all suggest for a bunk room with a shower and sink - rarely used? Has to be electric.

I’m running small electric 110v tankless in garage and mancave. No complaints. Just replaced the garage unit after 20+ years.

It’s going to depend on how much voltage you have available but small electric tankless heaters are very expensive

I used a 50 cup coffee maker for hot water in my shop. Rarely needed, but if I needed hot water I filled it, plugged it in and 30 minutes later I had hot water.

You are already plumbed and wired for a regular electric water heater. I just checked Home Deopt. You can buy a replacement heater for around $350. Comes with a warranty. They can arrange instillation and haul off.

I made this contraption out of copper for our water heater out at the ranch. You screw this thing on after the cold water valve. You turn the water off and drain a couple of cups of water out of the pop off valve. Open the ball valve and pour a bottle of peroxide down the open pipe at the top. Gets rid of the stinky water. Electric water heaters are even worse about getting smelly than gas in general.

I currently have 220 going to a tank style hot water heater.

he stated it is currently propane ... and would have to run electricity to it ...

My bad. Nap time.

Find one that will fit your needs then check the specs to see if your wiring and breaker will work

My Wife has in her glass work shop (building) a tankless water heater, under her counter, it is very seldom used, and when it does it works fine, over 12 years now.