Gas and Propane Water Heaters in Palm Coast, FL

Where the gas comes from

Florida is mostly electric for water heating. The U.S. Energy Information Administration's 2020 survey found 88% of Florida homes heat water with electricity, about 10% with natural gas and about 1% with propane. In Flagler County, the county's economic development office lists Peoples Gas as the natural gas provider. That listing doesn't map which streets have gas, so ask Peoples Gas whether service reaches your address.

Where there's no gas main, propane fills the gap. It comes by truck to a tank on the property, either above ground beside the house or buried in the yard, and a regulator brings the pressure down for the appliances. If you're adding propane for the first time, the tank, its placement and the gas line from it are part of the job, and the supplier's own requirements apply.

Gas tank or gas tankless

A gas tank water heater works like an electric one, with a burner under the tank instead of elements inside it, and a flue up through the middle that carries exhaust to a vent. A gas tankless unit fires a larger burner only when a tap opens, and it needs its own vent and a gas line big enough to feed that burner. Both kinds need combustion air and a vent that meets the maker's instructions.

Gas tankless units need electricity too, for their controls and fan, so they don't make hot water in a power outage unless they're on backup power. Some models are built to hang on an exterior wall, which keeps the vent short; others mount inside and vent through the wall or roof. See tankless water heaters for sizing.

What a gas installation adds

• Gas piping. The line is checked for size and length against the new unit's input rating. A tankless burner can need a larger line than the tank it replaces.
• Venting. Tanks and tankless units vent differently, so a type change usually means a new vent route. A vent run beyond the maker's limits can make a unit shut down.
• Placement in a garage. Florida's plumbing code points to the state's mechanical and fuel gas codes for rules on raising gas appliance ignition sources and protecting them from vehicle damage (Section 502.1.1 in the 2026 plumbing code text). Ask how the installer will meet them.
• The drain pan. The plumbing code's pan rule forbids a plastic pan under a gas-fired water heater (Section 504.7).
• Permits. A water heater change-out needs a city permit in Palm Coast. If gas piping or venting changes, ask Building Services at (386) 986-3780 what else applies. See Palm Coast permits.

After a storm or a flood

Hurricanes bring two gas-specific concerns. First, if gas service was shut off, Peoples Gas says its technicians must visit to relight pilot lights and run safety checks before service is restored. Second, if flooding or storm damage may have reached your gas appliances, Peoples Gas advises having the equipment inspected and serviced by a qualified plumber or appliance-service contractor before you use it.

In low garages near the canals, FEMA's flood protection guidance recommends raising water heaters and other utilities at least 12 inches above the base flood elevation. If you're replacing a gas unit in a flood-prone spot anyway, that's the moment to ask about height.

Everyday safety

Keep the area around a gas water heater clear: no paint cans, gasoline or stored boxes against it, and nothing blocking the air it needs. Set the thermostat to 120°F, the setting the Consumer Product Safety Commission urges to reduce scald injuries, which it says fall hardest on older adults and children under five. A working carbon monoxide alarm in the house is cheap protection with any fuel-burning appliance.

What gas units cost

National figures only: Thumbtack's 2026 guide lists $1,511 to $2,255 for a 40-gallon gas tank and $1,623 to $2,420 for a 50-gallon gas tank, citing Xactware data that includes labor and materials. Angi (2025 data) lists gas tanks at $700 to $2,700, propane tanks at $700 to $2,500 and gas connection permits at $50 to $300 in general. New gas piping, venting or a propane tank installation comes on top. See the cost guide.

Gas and propane questions