Quote:
Originally Posted by Samonadreau
Technically true but almost as inefficient as heating your house with a light bulb.
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Can your explain why that would be the case?
Energy is conserved. The hot water tank burns natural gas, which is the same fuel as the furnace. The chemical energy released by burning the gas seems like it would all be converted to heat (maybe small amounts to light/sound, but inconsequential and likely the same as the furnace).
That heat is either going in the water (good), out with the flue gases (wasted to outside) or into the house (offsetting furnace usage). It seems that wasted to flue gases should be comparable to your furnace (depending on efficiency).
Heating with light bulbs seems stupid because they only use small amounts of energy and electricity is more expensive than natural gas. I dont think waste heat from a hot water tank has many of those disadvantages, and I wouldn't factor waste heat into my decision (assuming the tank is in an insulated space inside the house).
Basically, it is so inconsequential that it doesnt matter for this decision, imo.