Hot water services are essentially the engine to your home. The kitchen, bathroom and laundry all heavily rely on your hot water service to perform effectively. Most people take little notice of theirs, until something goes wrong. As the leaves fall and the temperature declines ahead of winter, the demand for hot water is at its highest. Because face it, whats better than a nice warm shower or bath on a winters day?
Sustainability has been a key word throughout recent years and as energy costs are rising it has never been more important to choose the right hot water service for your home or business. This blog post will give you a brief overview of your options, with advantages and disadvantages to help you make the right choice. For a quote tailored to your specific hot water service requirements, please call 8342 5600 or email mail@hallplumbing.com.au
Continuous Flow (pictured above)
Advantages
> Save space
> Never run out of hot water
> Controllers installed deliver exact required temperature
Disadvantages
> If there is a power outage there will be no hot water
> Small amounts of water are lost before the unit heats up
> Gas line may need to be upgraded
Electric Storage Units
Advantages
> Most affordable unit to purchase and install
> Easy to replace, saving money on replacement costs
> Off peak tariffs available to heat water over night
Disadvantages
> Highest emissions of Co2
> High chance of running out of hot water if use is excessive. Water will only heat overnight.
Gas Storage Units
Advantages
> Up front costs are generally lower than other types
> No upgrade of gas line required
Disadvantages
> Not as energy efficient as continuous flow or solar
> Size of the tank takes up extra space
Solar Electric Boosted
Advantages
> Harness energy from the sun
> Great for sunny climates
> Government incentives available
> Reduced monthly bills
> Boosting element engages when there is not enough energy from the sun
Disadvantages
> Less efficient in winter months
> Higher upfront cost
> Higher installation cost
> Solar Panels on the roof must be facing north in order to operate efficiently
Solar Gas Boosted
Advantages
> Harness energy from the sun
> Great for sunny climates
> Government incentives available
> Reduced monthly bills
> Continuos flow units are used as a backup booster. Therefor you will never run out of hot water
Disadvantages
> Less efficient in winter months
> Higher upfront cost
> Higher installation cost
> Solar Panels on the roof must be facing north in order to operate efficiently
Heat Pump System
Advantages
> Takes heat from air to heat water
> Environmentally friendly
> Similar footprint to electric storage which makes swapping over easier
Disadvantages
> Noisy
> Not as efficient in colder areas
> Works at its best when temperature is at its hottest
Final Points
> Natural Gas Hot water units are generally cheaper to run than Electric
> Electric units are likely to emit more greenhouse gasses but are usually the most affordable to purchase
> Solar units have higher purchase and installation costs but lower running costs
> Heat pumps are more environmentally friendly than gas and electric storage units
> There are many factors that will determine which Hot Water Unit is right for you
For more information contact us on 8342 5600 or email hallplumbing@adam.com.au