Gas vs. Electric Water Heaters and Sizing in New Braunfels

The City's utilities page (opens in a new tab) says CenterPoint Energy supplies natural gas to many areas of New Braunfels, but not all parts receive gas service. Electric is split too: New Braunfels Utilities (NBU) across most of the city, Guadalupe Valley Electric Cooperative (GVEC) south of County Line Road, the line that matters for homes around Voss Farms, and Pedernales Electric west of the city out FM 306. Of all the neighborhoods, only Veramendi has CenterPoint gas confirmed.

Once the fuel is known, the real decision is size. A house that runs out of hot water on a Saturday morning rarely has a broken heater; it usually has the wrong capacity for the people using it.

Which fuel does my home have?

The existing water heater tells you which fuel your home has. A gas water heater has a vent pipe rising from the top and a gas line with a shutoff valve beside it; an electric one has only a cable or conduit and no flue.

• Gas meter on the house: a line can usually be extended to the heater, so either fuel is an option.
• No meter: gas means a CenterPoint service extension if a main runs nearby, or a propane tank and delivery contract on a rural lot toward Canyon Lake or off FM 306.
• Do not guess from the subdivision name: apart from Veramendi, the City publishes no per-neighborhood gas map. Your bill and your meter settle it, and if the heater you have is acting up, gas and electric water heater repair covers both fuels.

Can I switch from electric to gas, or gas to electric?

You can switch a water heater from electric to gas or from gas to electric, but a fuel switch is a bigger job than a swap. Electric to gas needs gas service at the house, a new gas line, a vent to the outdoors and combustion air; gas to electric needs a dedicated circuit sized for the heater and a panel with room for it.

• Permit: the City requires one to convert or alter a gas, electrical or plumbing system, so either switch is permitted work.
• The old flue: going electric leaves a vent to cap or remove properly.
• Worth asking: whether the switch pays back on your rates, or just moves the cost around.

Does a gas or electric water heater cost less?

Gas and electric water heaters cost about the same to buy, but gas usually costs more to install. A gas heater needs a vent, a gas line with a shutoff and combustion air, while an electric tank usually needs only the dedicated circuit already in place.

• Recovery: a gas burner heats water faster than electric elements, so a gas tank serves more people at the same size.
• Running cost: depends on your NBU, GVEC or Pedernales electric rate against your CenterPoint gas rate, and those move, so this page gives no dollar figure.
• Upkeep: both need flushing in this hard water; gas adds a burner, a pilot or igniter and a thermocouple to keep an eye on.

Prices on this page round several national cost guides into one range; method and sources.

What about a heat-pump electric water heater?

A heat-pump electric water heater is the most efficient electric option, at a higher upfront price. It moves heat from the surrounding air into the water instead of making it with elements.

• Efficiency: ENERGY STAR (opens in a new tab) heat-pump models carry a Uniform Energy Factor (UEF) of 3.3 to 4.1; UEF has been the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) efficiency standard since 2017.
• Placement: it needs room around it for airflow and works well where the surrounding air stays warm, such as a Texas garage much of the year.
• Rebates: NBU offers no water heater rebate; its heat pump rebate is for air conditioning systems.

What size tank water heater does my household need?

Size a tank water heater from the number of people in the house and your busiest hour. Rheem's sizing guide (opens in a new tab) sets these starting points:

• One or two people: 30–40 gallons.
• Two to four: 40–50 gallons, the most common size.
• Four or five: 50–55 gallons; a gas tank recovers faster.
• Five or more: 75 gallons, or tankless.

The gallon figure is half the picture. Two 50-gallon tanks can differ widely on the first-hour rating printed on the EnergyGuide label, and that rating is what decides whether the third shower runs hot.

What size tankless water heater do I need?

A tankless water heater should be sized to the fixtures that run at the same time, not to the house's square footage. Tankless water heaters are rated by flow, and the flow they deliver falls as the temperature rise they have to provide goes up.

• Add the flows: a shower, a kitchen tap and a washer running together need the sum of their flow rates at full temperature.
• Local advantage: water in south-central Texas generally arrives warmer than water up north, so a given model delivers more flow here than in a cold climate.
• Point-of-use models serve one distant bathroom, not a whole house.

The tankless vs. tank guide weighs the two, and water heater installation covers fitting the size you settle on.

What sizing mistakes show up in bigger new homes?

The usual sizing mistake in bigger new New Braunfels homes is one heater sized for the builder's budget rather than the bathrooms. Larger new homes in Mayfair, Meyer Ranch or the Overlook at Creekside can carry three or four bathrooms, a soaking tub and a laundry room far from the heater.

• Symptoms: hot water gone on weekend mornings, a long wait at the far bathroom, a tub that never fills hot.
• Fixes, cheapest first: a thermostat at the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)'s (opens in a new tab) 120 degrees with mixing valves; a tank with a higher first-hour rating; a recirculation loop for distant fixtures; a second heater near the far bathrooms.

The right sizing conversation starts with who showers when and which tub gets filled, not with whatever tank happens to be in stock. Have that list ready when you call, and the price you get will fit the house.

Does New Braunfels' elevation change gas water heater sizing?

New Braunfels' elevation does not change gas water heater sizing. The city sits at about 620 feet, and gas water heaters are built for sea level up to 2,000 feet, so no altitude derating applies here.

That keeps gas sizing simple: the rating on the label is the rating you get. If the home came with a tankless water heater, remember the yearly descaling in this water; the hard water guide explains why, and you can get your price for the right size any time.

Last updated: October 2, 2026