In the market for a new hot water system or looking to replace your inefficient old hot water unit? Hot water systems are available in many different types, specifications and capacities. At Budget Plumbing Centre, we are the leading choice for high quality and affordable plumbing supplies Perth locals trust. Choosing the best hot water system for your home depends on various factors, let’s take a look at a few things to keep in mind when selecting a hot water system for your property.
The Different Types of Hot Water Systems
Gas – known as an efficient energy source, so if you have a natural gas connection, that may be a good option for you. Great for large families because of their high recovery rate or rapid heating. The amount of water that they can heat to a certain temperature is higher compared to an electric water heater.
Electric – usually relatively cheap to buy and install, however, can be expensive to run on a continuous rate. Electric systems use a heating element located inside a tank to heat water, similar to the way an electric kettle works. Water is heated and stored in the tank, available in various sizes, where it is kept hot and ready to be used.
Solar – An eco-friendly solution, this system is powered by solar energy that is freely available and renewable. In order for a solar hot water system to be efficient, it needs to be installed in the sunniest spot. Most solar systems are equipped with a gas or electric booster element to maintain heat on less sunny days. While initially more expensive to purchase and install, over time, the low running costs of a well-chosen solar hot water system should make up for the time-consuming and comparatively expensive installation costs.
Instant –Often referred to as “instantaneous”, an instant or continuous flow hot water system heats only as much water as you need, when you need it. They aren’t truly instantaneous – it can take a few seconds before hot water starts flowing from the tap, especially when there’s a fair distance of pipe between the hot water system and the tap. Compact in size, there are no heat losses as with water stored in a tank, so they’re often cheaper to run than storage systems and hot water continuously flows, so it won’t ‘run out’ while you are in the middle of a shower.
Energy Efficiency
You might also consider how your choice relates to energy consumption. Second to space heating and cooling, water heating is the largest source of energy use. It is also the main source of greenhouse gas emissions in the average Australian home. The most efficient systems available are solar boosted systems as they get most of their energy from the sun. A solar water system may provide as much as 90% of your hot water needs for free, without any greenhouse gas emissions Continuous flow gas hot water systems rated at 5 stars or above are the next best option to solar. Electric tank systems running on electricity from non-renewable sources are inefficient. Each one in Australia puts out, on average, over four tonnes of greenhouse gas per year. These systems are currently the target of a federal phase-out.
Size
Storage hot water heaters are sized according to household size. The more people, the larger the storage tank will need to be. A storage heater that is too small will continually run out of hot water, while one that is too large will be more expensive to run because it will maintain the water temperature even when it’s not being used. Continuous flow or instantaneous systems are sized according to the number of hot water outlets in the home, rather than the number of people. A continuous flow system that’s too small may not be able to keep up with your hot water demands when multiple hot water outlets are being used at the same time. Solar water heaters are sized according to the number of people in the household. The more people, the larger the storage tank and the more solar collectors required. If you are building or renovating or your current hot water service has stopped working, get in touch with the team at Budget Plumbing Centre today. With an experienced team ready to give you expert advice and a huge of plumbing supplies at Perth’s best prices, pop in to one of our conveniently located showrooms in Belmont or Bibra Lake or browse our range online now.