Sorry that you can't even consider the tankless. I'm also not fond of electric and were we are currently renting is not helping matters. My old house had a gas water heater, this townhouse has an electric one. Actually the townhouse is about 5 years newer than my old house is, but the gas water heater was better than this electric one. We have put a wrap thing on it also. (I'm with you, I'd rather have gas.)