Water Heater Installation in Buffalo, WY
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What a Johnson County winter asks of your water heater
Nights here average 14°F from December through February, and homes need heat from September through June, ten months of the year. A water heater in this county is working most months just to keep up with cold incoming water, not just the few weeks most people think of as winter.
Power does not always stay on through that. Johnson County has recorded 84 winter storms and 110 damaging wind events over the past ten years, and across Wyoming, 8% of households went at least 24 hours without power in 2024. That is worth weighing when you choose between a gas and an electric unit. On efficiency, federal law sets a minimum for storage water heaters based on the tank's size, so two different sizes of the same type are not held to the same number.
- 14°F
- the average winter night, and colder incoming water means longer heating
- 10 months
- September through June, the months homes here need heat
- 8%
- of Wyoming households lost power for a day or more in 2024, and a heater with an electric element or electric ignition stops without it
NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020 normals
A heat pump water heater would save about $300 a year to run in Wyoming compared with an electric water heater.
Estimates for a typical Wyoming home, from EIA household energy data and Wyoming fuel prices. Your home will differ.
- How do I know it's time to replace my water heater?
- Age is the first thing to check. Most tank water heaters last about a decade before the tank itself becomes more likely to fail than any part inside it. Watch for water pooling at the base, since that usually means the tank is rusting from the inside out and no repair fixes that. Rusty water from the hot tap, a burning smell, or hot water that runs out fast when it used to last are all signs the tank is on its way out rather than dealing with something minor.
- Should I switch to a tankless water heater?
- It depends on what you want from it, not just on your current heater's age. A tankless unit heats water as you use it instead of storing it, so you don't run out during a long shower or back to back loads of laundry. It also takes up less space and tends to last longer than a tank. The trade-off is that a tankless unit needs the right gas line and venting for its size, so a contractor has to check what your house can support before you commit to one.
- What changes when you install a tankless water heater?
- The biggest change is that you stop storing hot water and start heating it on demand. That means no standby losses from a tank sitting full and hot all day, but it also means the unit has to be sized to handle your peak demand, like two showers running at once. Venting is different too, since tankless units often need their own dedicated vent rather than sharing one built for a tank. A contractor will look at your gas supply and where the unit can go before laying out what the switch actually involves in your house.