besides are you replacing gas or electric water heater. i want to start looking into them now although i wont be buying one till the parents christmas of tax rebate season.
so what type of gas one should i be looking into?
or since i live in a state that boast 300 + days of sunshine go with a solar one?

[I'm snowed in here at the moment and my folks might not get to me today due to the weather, so i thought i would write you all a little Christmas story - i hope you enjoy it Seasons greetings!]
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Once upon a time there was a happy civilization that was largely free and prosperous. Where everyone had food on the table and heat for their homes. Nothing, it seemed, could upset their happiness.

Then one day, along came a wise man who saw what was really happening. Although nobody could see it, they were all silently pumping out a gas called Co2 that was destroying the planet by overheating it. He was called "Al Gorical" and he told people that he could save them from this evil gas. All it would take is a few hundred billions dollars and they could save the planet.

"But where is this evil gas?" the people cried, "things don’t seem any different to us. If anything, this winter seems even colder than the last one and the polar bears are multiplying rapidly. "How can we believe what you say?"

The wise Al Gorical smiled sagely and nodded at the dumb stupidity of the simple people. "I know it feels colder to you" he said "but really, if you average it out across the globe, it is getting warmer". And he showed them some charts which they looked at whilst Tiny Tim shivered by the solar powered heater.

" Now," said Al Gorical "I have spoken to many wise men called scientists, and they all agree with me. We need at least 15% of all that you earn to help fight this invisible menace which none of you can see any sign of. I will set up a new system to make sure all of you comply with the directives and if anyone disagrees we will call him a denier and lead him onto the common where we will stone him to death – not burn him, that would produce too much Co2"

The people were very frightened by what he said, and agreed to pay him and his friends to save them. And sure enough, after giving most of their money to him. It worked – the winters continued to get colder and their world did not burst into flames. "See?" said Al Gorical "I told you i would save you all. You were wise not to listen to the deniers".

"Thank you sir!" the people all cried as they dragged their carts through the snow.

Merry Christmas!