My Hot Water Service Needs Replacing!
Which Hot Water Service Should I Buy?
Besides renovating your home replacing your hot water service is likely to be one of the major costs your household will face. With the cost of heating hot water ranking second in dollar spend for household electricity costs, Whywait Plumbing believes it is imperative that you are well informed before making any decisions on your new hot water service.
With the plethora of makes and models available, the push for energy efficient solutions and a range of next generation water heaters on the market it is now more important than ever to do your research to ensure you select the best option available for your families hot water needs.
If you have been thinking “which hot water service should I buy?”, Whywait Plumbing will help by explaining the options available in the marketplace.
Electric Hot Water Service
Electric hot water services are the most common form of heating hot water. They consist of a storage tank with an element that is thermostatically controlled. As hot water is drawn off and cold water enters to replace it the element comes on to reheat the water.
Benefits
- Ideally suited for like for like replacement.
- Available in a large range of makes, models and sizes.
- Readily available for same day installation.
- Reasonable up-front cost.
- Suitable for connection to off-peak electricity tariffs.
Limitations
- Higher daily running costs unless connected to off-peal tariffs
- Limited capacity if connected to off-peak tariffs, so you have the possibility of running out of hot water should the demand for hot water exceed the capacity.
Gas Hot Water Service
Gas hot water services come as either the traditional storage tank, which works in a similar way to electric but uses gas rather than electricity as it’s source of energy, or instantaneous gas hot water services which only activate when a hot water tap is turned on. Instantaneous gas hot water services have become more popular than the traditional storage tank due to their superior efficiency. If you do not have reticulated natural gas in your suburb then LPG models are available.
NB: It is imperative that the correct sized unit is installed for your house to ensure adequate delivery of hot water.
Benefits
- Available in a large range of makes, models and sizes.
- Reasonable up-front cost.
- Provide on demand hot water.
- Energy Efficient Solution
Limitations
- LPG running costs can be expensive if hot water demand is high.
- Need to refill gas bottles if running on LPG.
- Whilst natural gas is cheap to run there will also be service fees charged by the energy retailer.
Solar Hot Water Service
Solar hot water services capture and retain heat from the sunlight and transfer this heat to the water stored inside the tank. Solar hot water services are available in both roof mounted and split systems. Roof mounted solar systems have both the tank and solar collectors or panels located on the roof and split systems have the solar collectors or panels on the roof and the tank on the ground with a circulating pump connecting the two. The heart of a solar hot water system is the collectors as they trap the heat and transfer it to storage, so for optimum operation they need to be located on a north facing roof. Solar collectors are available as both flat panel or the more efficient evacuated tube system.
Benefits
- Energy efficient Solution.
- Low to no running costs.
- Available in a range of makes, models and sizes.
- Reduced greenhouse emissions.
- Eligible for government rebate.
Limitations
- Higher up-front cost
- Dependent on sunlight for heating so operation is affected by the weather and may also need to boost electrically during the winter months to ensure an adequate supply of hot water.
- Any hot water used at night will not be reheated until the next day unless the electric booster is on.
- Must still be connected to electricity so will be charged a small service fee by the energy retailer whether you use electricity or not.
- Alters aesthetics of the property.
Heat Pump Hot Water Service
Heat pump hot water units are designed to deliver hot water day or night no matter what the weather conditions. A heat pump unit uses a fan to draw in ambient air which is absorbed by a refrigerant gas. As the warm gaseous refrigerant circulates through the system it passes through a compressor where it’s pressure and temperature rise. The hot refrigerant then passes through a heat exchanger which heats the water. The refrigerant is cycled back into the system, and the hot water is pumped into the storage tank.
Here at Whywait Plumbing we recommend the Sanden “Eco” Hot Water Heat Pump the most energy efficient hot water heat pump currently on the market as certified by the Australian Government Clean Energy Regulator.
Benefits – Sanden Hot Water
- Low running costs proven to use 20% of the electricity costs of electric storage tanks.
- Available in a range of sizes.
- Energy efficient.
- Reduced greenhouse emissions.
- Manufactured for Australian conditions.
- Fast recovery rate.
- Eligible for government rebate.
Limitations
- Higher up-front costs.
Got more questions?
Whywait Plumbing are more than happy to help. Call us today to speak with one of our friendly staff.
