Water Heating Cost Comparison
Heating 1,000 litres from 27°C to 60°C takes 38.4 kWh of heat. On an electric tank that is about ₱461. On diesel, ₱384. On LPG, ₱249. On a heat pump, about ₱115.
Same water, same temperature, four ways to heat it. Every price and efficiency below is editable — put in your own tariff and fuel invoice prices and the comparison recalculates honestly, including where LPG genuinely beats electric.
Your Demand & Prices
Cost Per Day, Compared
| Method | ₱ / 1,000 L | ₱ / Day | ₱ / Year | ₱ / kWh of Heat |
|---|
The Formulas
Heat required:
Cost per method (η = burner efficiency or COP; NCV = net calorific value):
Method & Sources
- Water — cp = 4.186 kJ/kg·K, density 1 kg/L. 1,000 L × 33 K = 38.4 kWh of heat.
- Net calorific values — LPG 13.6 kWh/kg, diesel 10.0 kWh/L — the same hub-standard table used in our Boiler Converter and Energy & Carbon Converter, aligned with UK Government GHG conversion factor publications.
- Efficiencies — electric resistance 100% (all heat ends up in the water), LPG and diesel burners default 85% (editable; flue and standby losses are why it is not 100), heat pump COP default 4.0 (AquaHERO rated; drop it to 3.4 if you want the conservative case — the ranking does not change).
- Honest point — LPG genuinely beats electric resistance on running cost at typical Philippine prices. The heat pump beats both. We show all of it.
Related Free Tools
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to heat 1,000 litres of water?
From 27°C to 60°C: 38.4 kWh of heat. At typical Philippine prices: ~₱461 electric resistance, ~₱384 diesel, ~₱249 LPG, ~₱115 heat pump at COP 4. Edit every price above to match your bills.
Is LPG cheaper than electric for water heating?
Per kWh of heat, usually yes — about ₱6.5/kWh at ₱75/kg and 85% efficiency, versus ₱12 for resistance. That is an honest point in LPG's favour. The heat pump beats both at about ₱3/kWh of heat — with no cylinders, flame or flue.
Why does a heat pump cost a quarter of electric resistance?
A resistance element turns 1 kWh of electricity into 1 kWh of heat. A heat pump uses 1 kWh of electricity to move ~4 kWh of heat from the air into the water (COP 4). Same tariff, a quarter of the kWh purchased — and warm Philippine air keeps the COP high all year.
What temperature rise should I use?
Philippine inlet water is 25–28°C and storage practice is 60°C — a 33 K rise. UK/US figures assume 45–50 K because their water is colder, which is why imported running-cost numbers overstate Philippine costs by a third or more.
Still Heating Water the Expensive Way?
Tell us how many people or rooms you serve and what you pay for power. We will size the right heat pump and show the payback against what you burn today — honestly, both ways.
Get the Comparison for Your Site